“Seeing things from other points of view and learning how different societies operate was really broadening.”
But Glisson’s broad interest in learning extends beyond this hemisphere to German language and culture. He spent this past year in Germany in order to finish his ECU German language minor. While in Europe, he attended a Mayan hieroglyphic workshop in Paris and took a Mayan hieroglyphic course in Germany. He comments, “foreign travel was wonderful – and it taught me more about how people around the world view the United States. Seeing things from other points of view and learning how different societies operate was really broadening.” Glisson credits the support of his parents, Theresa and George Glisson, and his girlfriend with encouraging him to unearth his dreams, however far he had to travel to do so. Glisson still finds time to play the guitar and compose, to backpack on the Appalachian Trail, to design websites, and to play hockey. He overcame a fear of deep water and is now a scuba diving aficionado. His courses in Biblical archaeology sparked an abiding interest in ancient languages such as Aramaic, Phoenician, and Old Hebrew. And in his German courses at ECU, Dr. Jensen helped him to relish and embrace the challenge of learning something difficult.
Areas covered during archaeological field school.
“Sometimes we don’t want to learn about a certain subject, but we are required to. This is tough, but it really makes us better people and stronger students.” Jason Glisson plans to continue his education at the master’s and PhD levels and hopes to teach in a university one day. But learning never stops. “The learning process is humbling – you can study a subject for years and still not know half! I remind myself each day that there is much more to learn in life and in school. We as human beings never stop learning.” Harriot College’s Jason Glisson – inspired as a child by movies in popular culture and then by professors at ECU – is the focus of this student spotlight, but he’ll one day unearth knowledge about ancient archaeological chambers or the intricacy of the German language or subjects he has yet to explore. 19