Student Veterans
Most people will be lucky to even be walking without aid when they are 90 years old.
But USU professor Harold Kinzer is not most people.
Kinzer, associate professor of speech at USU, said he and his wife have set a lofty goal to hike Angel’s Landing, a peak in Zion National Park, when they are 90 years old. They hike it every year in order to prepare for their goal, and Kinzer said it is a hike he would recommend to everyone.
“It’s an interesting climb,” Kinzer said. “Most people turn around before they get all the way up, but you need to see it.”
In addition to hiking, Kinzer said he and his wife love to travel. In his office, lined with pictures of places across the globe, Kinzer said one of the most interesting places they have visited so far was Spain in the 1960s.
“There was a terrible civil war in the ’30s, and it was interesting to see the transformation as they moved to a constitutional monarchy,” he said.
Kinzer said one of the reasons they travel is because he and his wife both enjoy history and looking for places with rich backgrounds. Europe, he said, is one place they particularly enjoy traveling to because of it’s history. However, Kinzer said he could not pick a favorite place to travel, as he has found something wonderful and unique about each vacation spot.
“I would have to say my favorite place is always the last place we visited,” Kinzer said. “Or I suppose the next place we are going.”
Besides being his favorite travel companion, he said his wife has also been one of the most influential people in his life because of her spirit of adventure.
“There are so many spheres of influence in my life, but one I will always cite is my wife,” Kinzer said. “We challenge each other to keep exploring.”
Kinzer said he first became interested in speech studies when he was a member of the debate team. After graduating from the University of South Dakota, he said he had a tough decision to make: what to be when he “grew up.” He first considered a military career and then a career in public health, but he eventually decided to attend graduate school instead. After graduating with a doctorate from Ohio State, Kinzer said he began teaching and has never looked back since.
“This is cliche, but I enjoy working with students. It’s a lot of fun,” Kinzer said. “It keeps me young and is a lot better than being a prison guard.”
Kinzer has been a professor at USU for 33 years and said he firmly believes public speaking is an essential skill for college students to learn.
“One thing I tell students is that public speaking will help you write, communicate and work well with people,” Kinzer said. “Whatever you do, it’s critical.”
After years of observing students and working with them, Kinzer said he has two pieces of advice to pass on.
“I would tell students that while you’re here, you need to get engaged with your professors,” Kinzer said. “I think that’s critical.”
Secondly, Kinzer said he would tell students instead of focusing on job, they should try to focus on what else they can do at USU that will introduce them to new experiences. He said with so many resources around them, like the Study Abroad program, students need to take advantage of it and get a well-balanced education.
“If you think that completing 120 credits makes you educated, that’s sad,” Kinzer said.
Kinzer said he will retire next year with mixed emotions. While he is looking forward to traveling, Kinzer said he will miss working with the students.
“I’ve enjoyed every moment,” Kinzer said.
-amanda.m@aggiemail.usu.edu