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Cheese Tastings and Political Science

BOILING SPRINGS, N.C.鈥擣rom gruyere to gorgonzola and office parties to dinner meetings, navigating through social situations begins with confidence. To prepare her students for situations like these, Dr. Elizabeth Amato, assistant professor of political science, held a cheese tasting recently in her Intro to Political Science class. Getting the job is no longer based on a polished resume. Often, it鈥檚 about who you know and how well you can shine when participating in a networking opportunity.

The cheese tasting was the culmination of a series of classes that focused on life skills. 鈥淭here are so many incidents where they need to negotiate the world in social ways,鈥� Amato shared. 鈥淎s a professional, you need to know topics professionals know. Knowing about fresh, soft, semi-firm or firm cheese鈥攁nd how to slice it鈥攇ives them something to talk about.鈥�

The students in the class are majoring in either political science or global studies. In addition to the cheese tasting, Amato included lessons on making small talk, exiting a conversation, budgeting, paying off student loans and other things they need to know about being an adult. Tremayne Booker, a junior political science major from Gastonia, N.C., valued the lessons on budgeting. 鈥淢ost of the time you鈥檙e thrown out in the world and people say, 鈥楩igure it out,鈥欌�� he observed.

While sampling the cheese and crackers, John O鈥機onnell, a global studies major from Georgia, said learning what to do in social situations had been helpful. Ending the class with a cheese tasting was definitely a great idea. 鈥淚 would pretty much try any cheese or food you put in front of me,鈥� he shared.