Audiences and Taking!

Seth Godin

I love when other blogs discuss things that I have been thinking about recently.  Seth Godin hit on two of my thoughts today.  He blogged about blogging audiences and whether he is blogging to the “first-timer” or the “regular.”  Go check it out!

His second blog discussed how too often we expect things to be “given” rather than us taking initiative to “take.” I find this to be especially true in school settings.  Often, students expect teachers to “give” the information rather than students “taking” and going after the best they can get.  Taking responsibility and initiative rather than waiting for a boss or teacher to give these things.

I want to be a “taker”!  I want to strive to do more, serve more, learn more, and not be complacent in life!  For sure, there are times to wait and there are times to go.  I just don’t want to be immobilized by an assumption that people are obligated to “give” me things and that I need to wait for them to before pursuing and striving to “take.”

I Love “My” Graduates!!

I am realizing that one of the big parts of my job is getting to know “my” graduates and being able to help them along the way. I love solving problems and working things out for them. Being able to inform them of policies that work in their favor or make their lives less stressful makes me happy.

Last Thursday, I was able to inform one of the graduates that she did not have to rush to get her classes in due to a certain policy. She was so relieved and it truly sounded like that took a big load off of her shoulders. Having just graduated in December, I know how busy and stressful the last semester of college can get. From finding housing, a job, dealing with change and just finishing school work, life gets busy! Anyway, to finish the story…the girl I was able to help was SO sweet and made a point to stop in the office to drop off candy for me to say thank-you for all my help. This totally made my day and reminded me how even these little things can make a big difference. She took the time out of her schedule to get the candy and bring it to me. A sacrifice, but totally realistic.

Another graduate added on the end of an e-mail to me, “I think you just may be my favorite person here!” Again, this did not take that much time to add on, but it’s that little extra that makes a difference. I want to make more sacrifices like this in my life so that I can bring joy and show thanksgiving to other people who come into my life. I want to take the time to get to know “my” graduates as much as I can so that I can help serve them better and show them that I do care if they graduate or not and if their lives are stressful. I want to help in any and every way I can.

How about you? Any fun stories like this? Or how have you sacrificed to “make someone’s day”?