It's a little crazy when you think about it. I started this blog on January 1, 2012--almost three years ago after being accepted as a NUFP. I remember being so excited thinking that one day the day would come where I would get to be a professional in higher education and three short years later, the time has come.
Coming back to Jersey for the holidays, visiting my undergrad is a definite stop. I always need to stop by to see my mentor and update her on my journey. It is crazy to think that three years ago, I was deciding on whether I was going to be a high school English teacher or be a higher education professional. I chose higher education because it changed my life. Of course, I had positive experience with caring teachers in K-12, but I was empowered when I went to college and that's exactly what I want to do: I want to empower students.
Reflecting on when I first started, this has been quite the journey. I've lost count of how many planes I've been on and how many articles I've read, but what I do remember are these moments. These moments of fulfillment when I see a student have an "aha" moment or the moment when I walk into my office and find a thank you note from a student. It is all these moments--for and from students--that have taken me on this path.
Many people come into higher education from various background and various reasons. A lot of them were students leaders on their campuses like I was and we want to continue to have an impact. Yes, this amongst other factors are reasons why I am in this field, but I think a lot of it comes down to these moments and the people we had these moments with. If you read my previous posts, it isn't hard to see that I pretty much worship my mentors. They have been my rocks, my big sisters--and everything in between. It is because of them and how much they pushed me that I grew into the woman I am today.
I came across this article earlier in the week called "What Students Remember Most About Teachers" and while it's addressed from an older teacher to a younger one, I think the messages are what's most important.
As educators, we can sometimes get so caught up on our projects and our busy schedules that we forget that our students don't always want flashy powerpoint presentations or nifty handouts--sometimes, it's not what we do for our students, but who we are. I think that's why I look up to my mentors so much. While I see them as successful, it is not the responsibilities they have or the position they hold that matters to me, it is the people that they are--that is what I strive to be.
As I am in the process of "searching,"--searching where I want to live, what I want to do, the type of school I want to work in, etc. The most important thing I have to search for is the person I want to be for myself, for my students, and for the world.
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