A new and popular faculty member has implored this saying to zir students and I believe it is slowly changing the culture of the students at my current institution.
This quote is a variation of many excuses and failure quotes that I have heard over the years but this short, sweet, and concise saying resonates with so many students. I think if they could put it on shirts or banners that would proudly campaign for the cause.
What this new faculty member has done to zir students is transform the culture of low standards and expectations to creating a atmosphere where ze actually cares about their academic growth, their success, and the person.
I question why does it take the efforts of a new and fresh faculty member in search of tenure to revitalize the academic culture of an institution. As student affairs, do we face a similar conundrum? Since I am quickly approaching the likelihood of starting at a new institution, will I be so excited to "change the world" that I am not jaded or affected by institutional let downs, budget cuts, and low support from my peers/colleagues. How can I, as a new professional maintain this vigor and excitement for my first, second, third, fifth, tenth...ect job. Is it possible to stay this excitement that it creates change in my first year simply by speaking up, challenging students, setting high expectations, and not being afraid to rock the boat.
I approach this very lightly because of a very good article I read as my first assignment in graduate school, Don't drink the water: A guide to encountering a new institutional culture (Whitt, 1997). This article is GREAT and I encourage all graduate students, new professionals, and old fogies starting at a new institution to read the article and be reminded that you need to observe the new surrounding before nose diving in.
Back to the notation at hand. I am excited by the efforts of this new faculty member that is possible to change a culture in less than a year. It takes a strong will to be different, stand out from the crowd, and no where your allies lay. I say all this to say, excuses are indeed the nails that build houses of failure and as new professionals, we can not make excuses for our experiences at various institutions. Excuses are merely a poor justification for why we don't do well at our attempts. We need to buckle down and deal with life. No matter how jaded we become or feel there is always an opportunity to try again...and again...and again...and once more for good measure. No matter how rusty the nails become from disappointment, they can still be useful teaching tools for advancing the greater good.
Thats it for now.
Until next time.
Peace. Love. Soul.
NLH
References
Whitt, E. J. (1997). Don't drink the water: A guide to encountering a new institutional culture. In E. J. Whitt, (Ed.), ASHE reader on college [End Page 335] student affairs administration (pp. 516–523). Needham Heights, MA: Pearson.
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