The Dream Dean

Tuesday, July 20, 2021 (Day 201)

Relaxing Music for the week: Shared Values: Liquid Mind (9:10) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EtHaryFeHLE

Question: Describe a decision you’re facing right now. Which path will lead to most growth?

Answer: That’s both an easy question and a hard question to answer. It’s easy because I know exactly what I want to do. It’s hard because the decision is out of my hands – and the alternative isn’t very appealing. So, realizing that I have ZERO interest in doing transactional academic advising, which is focused on processes, policies, and procedures, and am writing a proposal to engage in transformational advising, where I’m engaged in work that is driven by purpose – helping students develop a sustaining commitment to goals and dreams that allow them to become their best selves in service to something bigger than themselves to make the world a better place. With the help of my great friend Megan, we’ve developed this great Program called the Life Design Catalyst Program that provides students a curriculum that helps them answer the question, “What should I do with my life?” Actually, we’ve created 4 Design Your Life courses that help students build a better life, a life on THEIR terms, not based on someone else’s agenda. It’s a successful program, whether it’s measured by increases in retention and graduation rates or by positive student feedback on learning outcome goals. And yet, I’m fighting to keep it around because it’s not what “other” people are doing. I’ve always looked at trends and feedback and created something new and special, not follow the latest or the greatest. In fact, most of my work has been created based on student feedback, whether I’m asking them what’s the most important things in their life right now (health) to what could we help you with the most right now in your college journey (figuring out what to do in life). So I keep plugging away, doing the work, finding ways to make it better for the two populations I serve (students and advisors), then sharing it with the world. I’ve created a document to define student success and a plan for the year; don’t know if it will be accepted, but right now, there is no plan, so I thought having a plan would be better than not having a plan. All I can do is put my best foot forward, share what we can do, and leave it on God’s hands. We’ll see…

Other Stuff

This upcoming semester, I’m going to have students watch inspirational videos during class, reflect on each video, then have class discussions on each video. One of those videos will be a commencement speech that I found fascinating. I’m sharing the speech, as well as a book review of the speech by one of my favorites, Brian Johnson. Check them out here:

• University of Texas at Austin 2014 Commencement Address (Admiral William H. McRaven) – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxBQLFLei70
• (Book Review: Brian Johnson) Make Your Bed: Little Things That Can Change Your Life…And Maybe the World by Admiral William H. McRaven – https://youtu.be/fWAS40LJ1sk

Such a great speech and book review. After watching the video, write down a sentence or two that describes what resonates most with you. So many takeaways for me, especially with Life Design Catalyst work:

• Establishing a protocol.
• Sometimes, life’s just not fair. Deal with it.
• Create hope.

Just to name a few.