Building Blocks - Vol. 1, No. 9
17 April 2010
The Building Blocks is a series of ideas to promote “Professional Practice and personal development” and to challenge students to think. These essays will be issued periodically in an e-newsletter format to all AE students at Penn State.
Impression
In a farewell address of one of my high school teachers, he reminded the students that we could take back everything we gave him except the impression he has from us. That is right – from us. We gave it to him.
In a society where image is overly valued, think about the impression you leave others. Unfortunately, impressions are long lasting. Often, it is the unplanned or accidental impression that leaves the deepest mark. Sometimes there is only one opportunity - a first impression. In some cases it may be the last impression that is most memorable.
The last time I met a friend of mine from the 70’s in person, it was at an office Halloween party. He had built a foam-core column just big enough to wrap around his torso. His arms stuck out so he can help himself to food and drinks. But he ended up standing in the corner all night because he could not sit down and he was afraid of tipping over. This actually was a good representation of his persona. Recently, I read that he has risen to be a vice-president of a large AE firm. With all the accomplishment, unfortunately, I remember him trapped in one of his ill-conceived designs.
Several times a year, I and other faculty members are visited by the FBI or some national security agency representatives. They are here to check on former students who are currently applying for security clearance to work on sensitive government projects. They probe pretty deeply into the students’ past including our knowledge of the student’s behavior on and off campus. Fortunately, most of the alumni being reviewed left good impressions while they were students. Before the investigators leave, they always ask for more people they can talk to. They tried to get to as many layers of the person’s former life as possible.
While college is meant for a lot of things, moderation and responsibility must be considered. Think and plan your actions down to what to wear. Certain occasions demand respect and decorum. Think about what to wear and how to act. Avoid leaving negative impressions. Specifically, I would like to ask the graduating fifth years to consider the proper attire and behavior for two upcoming academic and professional occasions: Senior Award and Recognition Banquet and the commencement. Faculty and former students can cited memorable (but not so desirable) impressions provided by individuals. In addition to being significant milestones in everyone’s life, those events may be the last time another student or faculty sees you before he/she has to give a professional reference. Consider how best to commemorate each occasion and leave a proper and professional impression.