Changing Lives...
This forum really hit home for me. All of the things discussed sounded like the speeches my campus president gives at our staff meetings. We Change Students Lives,our receptionists are the Director of First Impressions and we use the Dream Card which is very similar to the form discussed. So all of these things make a lot of sense to me.
Atiba,
We never know when a student is watching us or when a word from us will make a difference.
Jeffrey Schillinger
Yes we have to do our best. We end up influencing the student and we are almost like their councilor.
You are correct, Steven.
"Doing the best with what you have" is a pretty good definition for Emotional Intelligence. Our students need us to help them develop a strong sense of self-worth as well as the skills they need to be successful in their chosen field.
I understand the idea of having a quota, and playing the numbers game. I see students as customers and when they leave school, I try to understand what happened. I feel that this was the students choice, but the whole school has a part in this. from the time they call, until many years after graduation, the School should be involved and encourage the students to use the resources that are available. When students leave, this not only hurts them, but the family that supports them will have an effect.The students we have, come from backgrounds where they are charting in new and healthy waters. Most of these students do nopt know what it is, or how to achieve what it is they are trying to do. Being educated is only half of the challenge. the other half of the equation is what do you do with what you have?
Adam,
This is a great post. Treating people like family increases retention. I am fortunate that my campus director knows every student by name and she even know several of the student's family. This create a sense of community for the students.
Years ago, I attended our school as a student. Jim was one of my instructors. All of the instructors, including Jim, provided a sense of community almost to the the degree of being a family. I understand the importance of running a business. I believe treating your students as family establishes a higher degree of loyalty than treating them like customers.
Many instructors/teachers view themselves as educators and nothing more. This type of mindset can be effective but usually only produces average results. When an instructor/teacher changes their perspective from being an educator to being a person who changes peoples lives, they can dramatically effect change in their organization and in their students lives.
Excellent!!! You truly think like an "Intelligent Heart."
I am the Student Success Instructor at our Campus and these are things that I truely believe make a huge difference to students. Sometimes we can all feel overwhelmed with life. This is the case for our students as well. So maybe everything is seeming to cave in on them and that one thing can send them off or bring them back. It could be a simple as a receptionist smiling and saying how can I help you, or someone taking an extra minute to listen to the things that the student is facing and offering ideas. If for some reason the student was given the impression that no one cared, then that could be all it would take to send them packing. Sometimes it is a very small thing to us that can make all the difference to them.
Yes for sure we all would like to help the struggling student become a success.The smallest thing in one day can make or break a student.Just saying hello or holding a door is all it might take.The biggest thing I try to get convey is empathy tward the students and try to show them a positive outlook.
