Thanksgiving Eve

Thanksgiving is my favorite holiday of all time.  It’s a selfish favorite because I was born on Thanksgiving, but I love it because it doesn’t require great fanfare, or gifts, or malls, or mad countdowns or a celebration that started back in August that some holidays do.  All Thanksgiving does is force people to do the simple things—play nice, eat together as a family (however that is defined for you), and say thank you.  These are simple things, really, and things that I know I take for granted every day.

And I think that warrants a pre-Happy Thanksgiving post, and a big THANK YOU from me.  Thank you for being interested in SB, thank you for making me jump out of bed every single morning because I’m excited to go to work and do my job, and thank you for making me so proud to be a SB Alumna.

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving, and I hope the list of things you and your family have to be thankful for is long and joyful this year.

With Warmest Thanksgiving Wishes!

Take Two

Open Houses are kind of like my dogs (since I don’t have children to do this comparison with).  Both are very different, but I love them the same.  Open Houses take on a personality of their own–while the basic routine and schedule are the same, the different variety of people make them so very different, and very special.

This open house was a big one for us, and our families were so amicable and such good listeners (a weird thing to note, but they all followed directions like champs!).  I also had so many different conversations with girls, their parents, grandparents, and the like–I love talking with so many different people, and hearing all of their stories and life lessons.  We also had some awesome hair (KS, I still want to be you when I grow up!), some amazing boots/shoes (girls, you know who you are), and some wonderful families (including one I would love to nominate for Grandmother of the Year!).  All in all, it was an amazing weekend, and we are so grateful that all of our families took the time and the effort to make it down for a visit.

One thing that was different about this open house than in open houses past was our ability to utilize the new Fitness and Athletic Center.  It officially opened up for student use Friday, November 6th, and we had our Academic and Student Activities fair in the field house on Sunday.  IT WAS PERFECT!   I was able to get a birdseye  view for a few minutes from the vantage point of our suspended track–I was amazed not only at how many departments and clubs were represented, but by the fact that they all fit in one space with room to spare.  Amazing

Big shout outs to everyone who made this event possible, and Thank You to all of our students who make putting on these events totally worth it

Humble Pie

I was asked recently what motivates me, and that is something that I’ve had to sit down and think about long and hard.  However, the first answer that pops into my mind is you, my students.  I am incredibly humbled every day by the good work my prospective, current students, and alums are doing, by your stories and life lessons, and by the fact that for one of the most important journeys you will take in life you allow us here in Admissions to ride along with you for a short little ride.  It is awesome and humbling, and I am so honored.

Part of how we hear your story and start to walk with you as you venture into your college search is through your application.  After six long weeks on the road, I really look forward to reading.  There’s a rhythm and routine that I love about the whole process, and it is never simple.  As a former History Major, I love it because in its essence, it’s research.  I sat down and read three of my applicants yesterday, and when I was done I was absolutely blown away.  These three young women come from very different parts of the country, have very unique and vibrant stories to tell, and all three were incredibly memorable.

LT and I go way back (you’ll remember we met while I was in SWVA!), and her essay was incredible!  She has done some SERIOUS travel, and her essay reflected all the trials, tribulations and victories that a worldwide travel can undoubtedly offer.   SS and I also go way back, and can I just say I am SO PROUD OF HER!!  I don’t even think she realizes what an incredible job she’s done during her four years at her HS, and I am so incredibly humbled to be a small part of her journey.  JB and  I were like two ships passing in the middle of the night when she visited a few weeks ago, but I so enjoyed getting to know her through her essay and recommendations.  Her essay was well thought out, I loved the combination of women she would have invited to dinner, and she seems like a true delight–I’m looking forward to getting to know her more through this process.

A counselor in South Hamilton, MA shared with me while I was traveling that as admissions professionals we must never forget that each student has a small gift to give us–this gift of allowing us into their lives in such an intense, emotional, and beautiful way.  It’s often brief, but if we allow ourselves we can be changed and touched in amazing ways.  So a big thanks and shout out to LT, SS and JB–y’all are amazing, and I’m looking forward to seeing all the amazing things you will undoubtedly do here!

The House is Open

Open Houses are events here at SBC.  Big, elaborate events.  This weekend we welcomed around 50 families on our campus to tour, explore, and learn more about what makes SB tick.  Each Open House has a different personality, and this group seems very engaged, and very willing to go with the flow.  We had so much fun with all of you–I hope you all enjoyed the experience as well!

While I always enjoy meeting my students face to face, I think my favorite moment of the weekend came when during Coffee with the President a father asked the IT question–”Why a Women’s College?”  I think I could listen to Dr. Parker give her answer to this question a million times over (“Because it’s the best option she has!”), but when she wrapped up one of our parents shared that she was a SB alumna, and gave this beautiful testimonial about how coming back for her reunion 2 years ago she had the opportunity to speak to our Engineering Faculty about our program, and how excited those professors were about teaching in an all female classroom.  The girls were more engaged, more willing to speak out in class, more willing to stretch themselves in terms of their creativity…essentially getting a better education because of their academic surroundings.  For a young woman today, having that opportunity is the best option she has for success in what she want to accomplish in her life.

I wanted to stand up and clap.

I can talk until I’m blue in the face about why Women Colleges are still pertinent, why the Hardwick-Day study is so fascinating, and why I’m a better woman/admissions counselor/sister/daughter/friend/wife/dog-mom because of my experiences at SB, but to have not only our President, but our parents speak to why is almost indescribable.  It’s so powerful and invigorating.

Thanks to everyone who made this weekend possible, and to our prospectives for making this program worth it.  Hoping to see more of you in November!!

Matters of Life and Death

I’m back from Baltimore and in the office for a week straight.  THANK GOODNESS!!  I love seeing you all out on the road, but GAL’s in need of having her batteries charged. Plus, a week gives me time to catch up on the paperwork side of things, do laundry, and play with my dogs (something I’ve missed terribly!).

And as much as I want to catch you up on everything that has gone on in the past week (Baltimore was AMAZING!!), I need to take a timeout to recognize a special student.

Amina M. first got on our mailing list almost two years ago in October.  While she never stepped foot on our campus, she very obviously devoured every single bit of information we sent to her, and even made a point to request more.  I imagine Amina to be a voracious learner.  I was heartbroken today to receive a letter from her mother, sharing that Amina passed away after a sudden illness late in the summer.  Her mother shared that

“[Amina] had dreams, she had goals, and she was inspired.  She was planning to do volunteer work throughout our community, and she was perkier and happier than I’ve ever seen her.  She was very excited about life, and achieving the goals she had set for herself.  Amina’s days…were filled with hope and aspirations.

She believed in herself and I strongly feel that Sweet Briar and her hopes of attending this school had a lot to do with her positive attitude.  And for that I wanted to say thank you…and before she even stepped foot on to your campus she was already affected in a positive way.  How powerful is that?”

I would say that it is incredibly powerful (and I hope Amina’s mom will forgive me for sharing her words–I just cannot do them justice!).

I am constantly reminded how powerful one interaction can be, and this is a prime example.  Our “Let’s get you jazzed up about your job” speaker this past week, Dan Clark, talked at length about how a moment in time can change your life, and how we, as counselors, have the unique opportunity to reach out and change a student’s life.  It’s incredibly powerful.  Amina was touched and excited about life, about college, and about making a difference because of the connections she made here at SB.

What I am always amazed at, though, is how much I am changed, moved, and humbled by my students.  I hope that I will be able to convey to Amina’s family how much I am changed in this moment, how much her short life is touching my heart right now.  How I hope that by sharing her story, she will engage and affect the lives of others.  That while she would have only been a Junior this year, she as posthumously become, in my eyes, a part of our larger Sweet Briar Family.

Gentle Reader, I would love to encourage you to go out and do something today that make a difference in your community–big or small.  Do something today that makes another person happy because you have breath in your lungs, and blood running through your veins, and you are alive–regardless of what’s going on in your life, you have the blessing of one more day.  And if you can’t muster the strength to do it just for the sake of it being the right thing to do, then do it for Amina.  Do it for her family and friends who are mourning this tragic and stunning loss.  Do it because she can’t, and I know if she were alive today she would absolutely have done something to make her place a better one.

I’m not quite sure yet what I’m going to do, but when I do, I’ll be thinking of you, Amina.  Thank you for changing my life.

Fair Daffodils, we weep to see You haste away so soon: As yet the early-rising Sun Has not attain’d his noon

We have short time to stay, as you, We have as short a Spring; As quick a growth to meet decay As you, or any thing.

–Robert Herrick, To Daffodils