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While wandering around campus the past couple of days, going into classrooms, helping students with their schedules, answering questions (my favorite so far: "What is an MSA?"), I talked with a new student. Let's call him Howard (not his real name, obviously). Sherron Rouzan, one of our counselors, motioned for me to come and meet Howard, who was enveloped in what could only be called a mild anxiety attack. Howard had never been on a campus "this large," and he was visibly unsettled about how to fit in, how to make friends, how to feel that West was his new academic home.
Sherron and I talked with Howard at length, offering words of encouragement, giving him suggestions ("sit in the front row and turn and say 'hi' to the person next to you"). We gave him our office addresses and told him to reach out to either of us any time. Howard actually smiled, almost relieved that he now had two recognizable faces on campus.
What struck me most about this episode, in addition to the compassion showed by Sherron, was the pervasive sense of optimism on campus that surrounded us. Students seem glad to be here--even Howard, who was excited about being in college, but overwhelmed by his new environment. Our front-line staff is friendly and outgoing; faculty are welcoming students into their classrooms, helping them get settled; and I've witnessed our groundskeepers and custodians saying hello to students, offering them a smile and providing directions around campus. It's as if you all know that we have something special here at West, and we are excited--even privileged--to share it with our students. And today, as I write this, I have seen the campus covered in West regalia, celebrating our first "West Wednesday" of the semester.
Where am I going with all this? To say thank you to you all for creating such a positive environment of support and encouragement for our students. It's the small things--the smile, the offer of extra help, the patience--that makes the difference, every minute, every day.
It's going to be another great year at West.
Sherron and I talked with Howard at length, offering words of encouragement, giving him suggestions ("sit in the front row and turn and say 'hi' to the person next to you"). We gave him our office addresses and told him to reach out to either of us any time. Howard actually smiled, almost relieved that he now had two recognizable faces on campus.
What struck me most about this episode, in addition to the compassion showed by Sherron, was the pervasive sense of optimism on campus that surrounded us. Students seem glad to be here--even Howard, who was excited about being in college, but overwhelmed by his new environment. Our front-line staff is friendly and outgoing; faculty are welcoming students into their classrooms, helping them get settled; and I've witnessed our groundskeepers and custodians saying hello to students, offering them a smile and providing directions around campus. It's as if you all know that we have something special here at West, and we are excited--even privileged--to share it with our students. And today, as I write this, I have seen the campus covered in West regalia, celebrating our first "West Wednesday" of the semester.
Where am I going with all this? To say thank you to you all for creating such a positive environment of support and encouragement for our students. It's the small things--the smile, the offer of extra help, the patience--that makes the difference, every minute, every day.
It's going to be another great year at West.
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