Alumni speak about experiences at ISU
Andrew Rosten, Daily Vidette Staff
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: News
As a part of Communication Week at ISU, three former ISU graduates lectured Monday about things they wish they focused on while in school.
Steve Brown, a 1973 ISU graduate, who now works as a professor at Parkland College in Champaign, said he wishes he focused more on his writing skills while in college.
"For the most part, I wasn't prepared to do the kind of quality writing that I like to do, and I think there are a lot of snares along the way that I would warn students about," Brown said.
"Today, in colleges and universities, English faculty are saying, 'I am not going to back-step to teach you the things you should have brought with you from high school,'" Brown said.
"There are things you can do about it," Brown continued. "Once in every semester, I take a full day and go on a personal retreat, and I take one or two small books with me. You're going to have to take the initiative."
Matt Kammer, a 2005 ISU graduate, who now works as an agency field specialist for State Farm, said he wishes he focused more on attendance in school.
"[Dr. Cutbirth] mentioned that I never read the syllabus," Kammer said. "In the syllabus, there was an attendance policy. After the third [missed class], Dr. Cutbirth said, 'You're going to fail the class.' I think, at the time, I had a B in the class, and I was graduating in two or three weeks from that time."
"There were a lot of different learning experiences in that for me, and what ended up happening was that I had to do a whole lot more work than I would have had to do if I just showed up to class," Kammer said. "It's a whole different experience in the real world and Dr. Cutbirth really showed me that, and he was very hard on me about it, and I appreciate that."
Quincy Cummings, a 1999 ISU graduate, who now works as a business analyst for State Farm, said he wishes he were more involved in the campus community.
"Throughout the majority of my college career, I was very anti-organization. I could have made time to do some of those activities that would have helped make me more well-rounded," Cummings said.
"I thought that I would make it based on having a degree. Besides my sister and brother, nobody else in my family had a degree, so I thought that was my ticket," Cummings continued.
Cummings added that in the business world, networking is key.
"I thought I would make it based on what I knew and just proving that I'm smart, but it's not about what you know and who you know. It's about whom you know and who knows you. I should have done more outreach," Cummings added.
Steve Brown, a 1973 ISU graduate, who now works as a professor at Parkland College in Champaign, said he wishes he focused more on his writing skills while in college.
"For the most part, I wasn't prepared to do the kind of quality writing that I like to do, and I think there are a lot of snares along the way that I would warn students about," Brown said.
"Today, in colleges and universities, English faculty are saying, 'I am not going to back-step to teach you the things you should have brought with you from high school,'" Brown said.
"There are things you can do about it," Brown continued. "Once in every semester, I take a full day and go on a personal retreat, and I take one or two small books with me. You're going to have to take the initiative."
Matt Kammer, a 2005 ISU graduate, who now works as an agency field specialist for State Farm, said he wishes he focused more on attendance in school.
"[Dr. Cutbirth] mentioned that I never read the syllabus," Kammer said. "In the syllabus, there was an attendance policy. After the third [missed class], Dr. Cutbirth said, 'You're going to fail the class.' I think, at the time, I had a B in the class, and I was graduating in two or three weeks from that time."
"There were a lot of different learning experiences in that for me, and what ended up happening was that I had to do a whole lot more work than I would have had to do if I just showed up to class," Kammer said. "It's a whole different experience in the real world and Dr. Cutbirth really showed me that, and he was very hard on me about it, and I appreciate that."
Quincy Cummings, a 1999 ISU graduate, who now works as a business analyst for State Farm, said he wishes he were more involved in the campus community.
"Throughout the majority of my college career, I was very anti-organization. I could have made time to do some of those activities that would have helped make me more well-rounded," Cummings said.
"I thought that I would make it based on having a degree. Besides my sister and brother, nobody else in my family had a degree, so I thought that was my ticket," Cummings continued.
Cummings added that in the business world, networking is key.
"I thought I would make it based on what I knew and just proving that I'm smart, but it's not about what you know and who you know. It's about whom you know and who knows you. I should have done more outreach," Cummings added.
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