Faith LaShure, Dean for Admissions
So, it’s a new year… a new me, right? But what will make this new year’s resolution different from the last? What’s going to make it stick?
As a kid, I remember seeing many cartoons with the ever-present little angel on one shoulder telling an innocent (or not-so-innocent) child to do good, while on the other shoulder, a mischievous little devil appears, whispering the temptations of pre-pubescent years. The message was inevitably intended to encourage the hapless youth to engage in a mischievous act that would likely land them in the doghouse for a week with mom and dad.
And while those images seem far from reality in an adulting world of online learning, hashtags, and Zoom rooms, we still make daily decisions based on the little voices inside our heads. When I was studying and teaching communication in graduate school as an adjunct faculty member, we called these voices self-talk. It’s those voices I would argue that make all the difference in the choices we make — the difference between crossing the finish line, beginning a health journey or taking a stop at pit row. Depending on what voice you listen to and how you follow suit, it can be the difference between starting that new degree, taking that class, or driving past your dream.
As part of the Admissions team at Waubonsee Community College, my colleagues and I often view the start of spring as a time for new beginnings. It’s a time when we see early high school graduates enroll or people who are looking to start their journey towards a new career enroll in a course to pick up a new skill. We even see students who started the process of going to school years ago return to finish what they started. Each of those students heard the call of their inner voice or the voice of a spouse, parent, or high school counselor saying, “you can do this,” “you’ve got this,” and “now is the time!”
For those of us starting something new this year, especially those just starting school, I can’t stress enough the importance of continuing to listen to your positive self-talk, your angel. This is just the beginning of your journey. So, when the little voice says, “I should really go talk to my teacher after class,” or “I need to reach out to my advisor about checking out tutoring,” do it! Don’t listen to the opposing voice, that darn little devil that says, “but you do not know your teacher, what if they’re mean?” Remember, our teachers teach because they love to help students. Perhaps you think to yourself, “going to tutoring means I am not smart.” Do not listen to that negative self-talk. It is the destroyer of motivation and the destroyer of dreams.
Listening to positive self-talk is what we need to do more of every day. We must be intentional about it! Now, when we talk about the importance of good mental health more than ever in our post-COVID world, it’s critical we continue to emphasize the good and help to coach ourselves and others.
I recently had a good friend, Kat, complete her bachelor’s degree this past fall. She, like many of us, started at a community college and began her journey picking up skills to work in the medical field. While her education served her well, it was time for her to complete her four-year degree to open up more doors and head towards a new career. When I asked her what motivated her to complete it, she told me she constantly told herself she was worth the investment. She reminded herself that the inconvenience of school was only temporary, and she saw the finish line in sight. She listened to her positive self-talk.
The positive self-talk, your angel, is the builder of dreams and the builder of others’ dreams, so listen to it. Let’s lift up ourselves and others to what’s possible and make 2023 the year for you and me (ok, so the year of WE… together)!
