|
Oct. 18, 2022
Week 8. Week 8!
A huge thank you to Kaydee Van Flein, director of the Center for Student Rights and
Responsibilities, and to Val Gifford, director of Health and Counseling for their
pieces the last two weeks. I sure appreciate their insightful and heartfelt works.
Here is Kaydee’s piece on Welcome to Week 6! and Val’s piece on Welcome to Week 7! Take a moment to have a look at each one if you missed them. These are two incredible
leaders in our community and they are all about serving you.
We are diving into week eight and that means we are over halfway through the semester.
How are you doing? How did your midterms go?
This is a good time to check in with yourself. Be real. Are you in your top form?
Is it time to check in with some tutoring support? Time to rethink your school/work/family/social balance? This is the only time in
your whole life you will have these classes. This is your one opportunity to do your
best this term. It is worth taking a moment to reflect and revise your plans for doing
your best.
The middle of a long journey, whether it is a race or a stroll, can bring some of
the longest miles. You are in that place now. Do you feel it? We are farthest from
the beginning, and the end still seems far off. It isn’t. We’ve gotten here quickly
and we’ll get to the end just as fast – or faster!
One thing that can be helpful in the middle miles is to check in and ask yourself
why you are doing this. What is your goal? If the miles are breezing by, that’s wonderful.
Enjoy the ride and look forward to the destination. If the miles are seeming long,
hang onto the goal that got you started. Are you doing this for the credential at
the end? Because you know that people with college degrees, on average, earn more
than three times as much over their lifetimes as those who don’t? Are you doing this
for your spouse or for your children? For a parent or a grandparent? For the family
you hope to have one day? For the sheer joy of learning? Are you enjoying the journey
with your friends? Are you excited about your favorite faculty member or the subjects
you are learning? Whatever it is that helped you launch into this term, concentrate
on that goal and let it sustain you as you finish. Hang on to that. We will close
the book on this term soon enough. Meanwhile, engage in your studies. Engage in all
the cool opportunities that life affords – whether here on the Troth Yeddha’ campus,
at our Community College Campus, or at one of our Rural College Campuses, or just
in your community wherever you are, make the most of this week.
Also, it is a good time to start thinking about next semester. I know that can be
difficult when you’re in the middle of this one, but a little planning now can save
you a lot more time in the future. Connect with your advisor. It is a great time to
chat with them about how you are doing this term and to organize a plan for next term.
Identifying a plan for next term will help you with the stress of this term. It is
also just a great opportunity to check in with someone who cares about your success
and is here to help you attain your goals.
Here are a few dates to keep in mind. Spring registration will open on:
Monday, Nov. 14 for all UAF degree-seeking students
Monday, Nov. 28 for non-degree-seeking students
Are you an athlete, an honors student, an SSS student, or a veteran or military student?
If so, early registration for you starts on Friday, Nov. 11, 2022!
See your advisor, select your classes, and register for the spring semester!
As always, fair is fair – if you have any suggestions for me, please don’t hesitate
to email me at obguthrie@alaska.edu.
Thank you and have a great week!
— Owen Guthrie, vice chancellor for student affairs and enrollment management
|
