The RIT experience: A Journey in self-discovery

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Five kids burst into the room with uncontrollable energy–running in circles, performing their favorite rap songs and stealing each other’s shoes. Immediately, I wondered what I had gotten myself into. I nervously took a seat at a computer next to one of the youngsters. After introducing myself to Tyrell, I began to explain the project at hand.

As part of Community Darkroom, our group of RIT student volunteers hoped to teach students from James Madison Middle School how to publish their very own book. After a few simple instructions, Tyrell started scanning photographs and transforming his writing into typographical art.

Over the next several weeks, I worked with a number of students and watched in amazement as each child’s uncontrollable energy transformed into impressive creativity. After a great deal of collaboration and hard work, a bound book replaced the simple photocopied handout they compiled the previous year. The smiles of these proud middle school students proved that our Community Darkroom project was a success.

Just a few months earlier, I joined the RIT community as a first-year student. Despite not being much of a rapper or into swiping shoes, I did find myself running in circles as I unpacked my bags with the enthusiasm of the James Madison students. By the second week of classes, I was introduced to the School of Print Media student group, named PUB. Expecting merely some free pizza and general information, I walked into the first club meeting and discovered a chance to get involved with some impressive publishing projects. The upperclassmen in the group had an intimidating wealth of knowledge, but I soon started learning from them as I joined in on projects, committees and events.

My involvement with PUB activities, like working at Community Darkroom, led to a leadership position as Student Government representative for PUB. I ate even more free pizza at monthly SG meetings, completed quarterly reports and worked with other executive board members to develop a club budget.

One year later, I became a candidate for PUB president. The results brought back feelings of apprehension I remembered from that first day of teaching at Community Darkroom–I won! Again, I wondered what I’d gotten myself into.

As PUB president, I became accountable for the group’s successes and failures. Organizing meetings, overseeing projects, scheduling speakers and managing industry relationships did not leave much time to volunteer with Community Darkroom. Instead, I spent my time trying to motivate overworked students during the grayest days of the Rochester winter.

A few perks accompanied my role as president, from half-priced coffee to polo shirts and travel mugs. But these perks proved trivial when compared to the opportunities that came my way. I met dozens of new people, both in the RIT community and the printing and publishing industry. These relationships developed into friendships and important networking affiliations. PUB alumni contacted me about employment possibilities, and my peers began to see me as a leader and looked to me for advice.

Serving as PUB president brought some challenges as well, such as unproductive meetings, disagreements among members and missed project deadlines. But I learned from each experience. I learned the importance of strong communication skills and dedicated leadership. I learned from the knowledge of my peers, the experience of industry professionals, and the enthusiasm of James Madison students.

Four years after stumbling into my first PUB meeting, I’ll soon be attending my last. Of all the lessons learned at RIT, I can thank PUB for teaching me how to combine youthful energy with professional discipline to overcome challenges and produce my best work.

Adam Peck is a graduating graphic media student from Helena, Mont.