For the first time at JMU, I found a 9:05 class that keeps me truly awake without any head-bobbing or heavy eyelids.

Introduction to Interpersonal Communication with Jennie Rosier. To be honest, at first I chose this class because I needed another 300-level SCOM class to fulfill my graduation requirements. However, I am beyond happy with my choice in picking this class.

The class started with discussing the personal self and then moved onto attachment styles in children and adults, experiencing and expressing emotions, communicating non-verbally, communicating verbally, and listening actively. Currently, we are discussing relationships with romantic partners and I have never learned so much about relationships in my entire life. In fact, I’ve never learned so much about interpersonal communication during my time as a SCOM (School of Communication Studies) major.

Jennie is real. She uses anecdotes of her own family to help explain the concepts we are talking about. Not only that, but she is also incredibly passionate about what she does. It is obvious in her teaching style and her demeanor every morning. I wish I had discovered her classes earlier and not as a second semester senior because I would have definitely taken as many as my schedule would have allowed.

But the class isn’t just useful and fun for me, it’s also incredibly useful. As a future PR professional it is important to know how you are communicating with others non-verbally and what unintentional messages you may be sending out during a meeting with a client. Of course knowing how you are communicating verbally is important as well and I believe I have learned valuable advice and lessons from taking this class.

If I could give any SCOM major any advice it would be to take Intro to Interpersonal Comm with Jennie, not just because she’s an amazing professor, but also because the class is incredibly useful for whatever field they may be going into.