David Motz

My name is David Motz and I am a junior Advertising student at the University of Nebraska, Lincoln.  Initially, I studied Mechanical Engineering. I wanted to do something that I thought I would enjoy and (mostly) make a lot of money. Three semesters in I realized I no longer wanted to be a robot with a lot of money when I grew up. I have always been good at art and my friends expressed to me what a waste of talent I was. I took their advice and decided to switch programs... to art. This scared me. Still hungry for money, I began researching the major. It seemed transferring to a more respected school in the field would surely seal my future. I was granted admission to five well known art schools across the country and ultimately ended up in San Francisco. Halfway through my first semester, I hadn't learned anything. The school wasn't at all what my recruiter led me to believe. I didn't know what to do. I knew I could get a really nice degree from San Francisco and probably get a good job, yet I wouldn't have the knowledge required for said job. I knew I had to transfer... again. So here I am, back in good ole Nebraska. I love and appreciate it all the more having experienced somewhere else. My father helped me to realize it doesn't matter what you do; so long as you love it and fully commit yourself to it. 

​As far as writing goes, it seems that I only write when I must.  When assigned a scholarly paper, I find myself struggling through each sentence, hoping I am doing what is asked of me.  Practically the only time I write outside of school is to write music.  Even if I have not yet composed a song, I enjoy writing one.  I think it provides an awesome outlet that I can keep to myself, or choose to share with others.  Talking about things often relieves me from the “weight” they bear, yet, I am not very good at talking about the things that bother me.  This is why writing is useful to me.  It provides an opportunity to express myself in an organized format.  

​After reading through Harris’ interpretation of writing and community I have gained a new perspective on college.  Harris points out that each college has it’s own “language” and that it is the teacher’s job to teach their students to speak the respective languages.  In order for a student to be respected in each field, they must learn to write and talk in the field’s language.  After learning the new language, the students are then accepted into a new community.  However, the students must have their own thoughts, rather than simply regurgitating what the teachers have taught.  Mastering the language of the new community allows entrance into the community.  ​

​I think Harris’ ideas shed light on what many of my professors in the Advertising college have taught me.  I have repeatedly been told that we must learn to communicate our thoughts to those who have no understanding of our field.  This allows us to do business with those who are in different communities.  If we are able to master communicating our field’s ideas to other fields, our possibilities become far greater.