My favorite thing to do when I was in school was the field trip. I remember going to the fire station when I was in kindergarten, sitting on the fire truck, and seeing the firefighters go down the sliding pole.
I remember so much from these trips because I could see what I was learning. Sometimes I even got to sample things — like a hot dog in a meat-packing plant.
Photojournalist
As a photographer/photojournalist, I get up each day and go on a new field trip. Each time I learn something new. The excitement I feel while on these adventures is what I hope to capture with the camera. I need to take the readers of publications to places they may never go in their lifetimes but can experience through photographs to expand their world.
As a photographer, you must tune in with your ears and eyes. You must try to understand as much as possible and then capture those things that help not just document what you saw but also grab the excitement you felt when learning about the place.
Assignments also can be a little overwhelming — like trying to write a term paper the day before it is due. In these cases, it helps to know the subject before you arrive. If you have done research in advance, you can use the experience as icing on the cake, not the cake itself.
Researching before every assignment is not always possible, which is why it helps to find your niche or expertise. Formal education in a subject can be one of the ways to become an expert.
Social Work
I studied social work to understand people better. I later did my master’s in communication at a seminary, which helped me work with people of faith. Another subject I have devoted a lot of time to is sports and, specifically, basketball. I enjoy playing basketball, which gives me insights into the game that I would probably not appreciate as much as a spectator alone.
In school, we all did research papers. We were learning to do reports on my hobbies or interests made it enjoyable and a better message.
Mastering a subject is true for photographers, too. After you have learned an issue, transfer your skills to a new topic, and in time you will have diversified your clientele and turned your passion into a career.