Alex Kreitman, a 2006 Elon alumnus and current student in the Interactive Media master's program, wrote a column about returning to school in the July 27 edition of the Burlington Times-News.
Kreitman has spent the two years since his graduation working as the online editor for the Times-News. His column, titled “Going back to school can be a scary thought,” can be read in full below or by clicking the link on the right.
Going back to school can be a scary thought
by Alex Kreitman
I am about to do something I never thought I would do again. Go back to school.
When I crossed the stage and received my diploma in 2006 from Elon University, I thought that was the end of my days inside the classroom. To be honest, I was really excited about being done with school.
Don’t get me wrong, I was fully prepared to continue learning in the field and I have done just that. I feel that I have learned so much since graduating. Most of my knowledge comes in the fast-changing world of news media and its close relationship with the Internet.
But there is more for me to learn in a classroom setting. In order to try and stay sharp and ahead of the game, I have enrolled in Elon’s new interactive media graduate program. I never thought I would be so excited to get my nose back in a text book or write a research paper, but I am.
I feel like I have come a long way from the slightly immature, socially focused undergraduate student and have transformed into a determined, knowledge-hungry professional. I feel like I have come leaps and bounds since the days when I’d debate sleeping in over going to class. Now, I’m in bed before 11 p.m. most nights, up around 6:30 a.m. and usually one of the first in the office. I feel like an old man sometimes, but I plan on keeping an even stricter schedule when my first day of class begins Monday.
The days will start earlier and end later as I juggle learning new ideas and concepts about interactive media in the classroom and implementing those strategies in the field and on the Web at TheTimesNews.com. I am anxiously awaiting the challenge.
That challenge is good news to online readers. In order to expand our news coverage and to adapt my work schedule to fit in class time, you will soon seen a lot more updates at TheTimesNews.com.
The demand for news never stops, and right now I think we do a pretty good job of delivering it no matter what time of day. Obviously though, we can always do better and I plan to take that challenge on first hand by beginning updates a lot sooner and continuing them later in the day on a more consistent basis.
In-between will be my time in the classroom. The interactive media program will cover lots of important topics and some technical training. Shooting and editing video will be incorporated as well as writing for the Web, using social networking sites, engaging online users, the future of the Internet and much more.
I have been studying up on this industry and have worked in it every day for the last two years so I know what to expect from the program. But then I think about being a student again and that’s a little scary. I’ve spent much of my time as Times-News online editor playing teacher so hitting the books again will be quite the opposite of what I have become used to.
Just the opportunity to return to Elon and study interactive media gives me goose bumps though. I have no doubt that the skilled and impressive faculty at Elon that I have come to respect dearly over the years will again provide me with a valuable and educational experience.