As we approach the Thanksgiving holiday, it’s a great time to reflect on the work we do and, despite the challenges sometimes, to appreciate all the rewards that service to others in higher education can bring. As educators and consultants, we have the opportunity to visit other campuses and meet colleagues who are doing some pretty creative and amazing things. We just returned from a successful week-long conference at the University of Toronto, working on training and certification with a group of registrars, directors, managers, and staff from five outstanding Canadian and US institutions. The ideas, energy, and talent bursting from this group were so inspiring. These are the folks who are managing change and driving higher education to new levels of service excellence. They care about each other and the students and colleagues that they serve, while truly embodying the mission of changing lives through life-long learning. So, in reflecting on this fantastic experience, here are ten things that I’m personally grateful for:
  1. I’m grateful to work with people who are so interesting and creative.
  2. I’m grateful to be regularly challenged to learn and grow, to move beyond “good enough” and continuously strive for excellence.
  3. I’m grateful to work in a supportive environment where such a variety of opinions and diversity of ideas are valued and respected.
  4. I’m grateful for the sense of family and community in which the integrity of each individual is valued.
  5. I’m grateful for the feeling of satisfaction and accomplishment when we find a creative solution to a difficult problem or a broken process.
  6. I’m grateful for colleagues who recognize that collaboration is just as important as competition.
  7. I’m grateful for the opportunity to really listen to others and to be heard myself.
  8. I’m grateful for the opportunity to help others and go beyond myself.
  9. I’m grateful to be able to envision and work toward the “greater good” as part of my job.
  10. I’m grateful to see, every day, how education can make the world a better place and how I can be a small part of that change.
I’d love to hear some of the things that you are grateful for. Share in the comments below!   Happy Thanksgiving!