Philosophy Statement 

My name is Hailey Gessner and I am a first year student here at Penn State University. Throughout my first year I engaged in meaningful interactions between my peers involved in RCL learning courses. The rhetoric taught in these classes showcases the real world rhetoric many overlook in their day to day lives. These courses have implored me to really think and digest, to make connections, and draw upon social skills to work towards a common goal. From deliberation to advocacy projects, each work had one common goal. That common goal was to prompt an individual to engage with information, really understand these issues, and then utilize them in the real world, in a practical sense. I can firmly state that after taking these rhetoric and civil life courses I am more aware of some unknown issues in our time period. I can more freely express my thoughts in a space filled with others. I can truly engage with information and apply it in the appropriate circumstances. By taking a look through my e-portfolio you will see how rhetoric has shaped many aspects of our world and you can truly understand the effect rhetoric and civil life has taken on me.