I would like to take credit for this idea but it actually came from a guest we hosted last week at the College, Ms. Jimmie Paschall. Ms. Paschall was an impressive guest in every manner possible but the most striking idea she talked about during her visit was a concept she referred to as Work/Life Integration.
Work/Life Integration is about merging your various worlds together so that you do not think of them as separate entities but as a component of a well rounded existence. In this age of connectivity we are never truly separated from any aspects of our lives. Why fight it? While work now follows you home regularly, your work can be integrated with your home as well. You don't need to be in the office 24/7 anymore, we are now living in a non-punch clock world. It is because of this world, that I can volunteer at my kids school one day a week or be 'kidnapped' occasionally by my wife for an afternoon of togetherness. As a wise woman once said, 'we only have one life why are we trying to divide it?'
In a university setting, this philosophy can work quite well. I regularly take my children to events on campus. My daughter loves going to volleyball games for instance. When I have had students on the team, she has had fun meeting them after the games and I believe they get a 'kick' out of having fans that truly enjoy their play. By exposing my children to the campus environment, they get to see people from around the globe and hear ideas that they would not normally be exposed to (though sometimes I have some explain' to do afterwards).
Overall, I believe this philosophy works for me. Why not share the love with both my work and my family?
Showing posts with label Sunday soliloquy. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Sunday soliloquy. Show all posts
Sunday, November 13, 2011
Sunday, November 6, 2011
Sunday Soliloquy
We live in a new world now (see the picture below):
Children of this generation are now truly living in a wireless world. These children will not know a world where a trillion pieces of information is unavailable to them at an instant. This has made me think a lot about whether or not this a good change in our society. On one hand, the children of today will have a wealth of knowledge available to them that is unparalleled. I think in my field about how TripAdvisor.com has changed the entire way businesses are marketed for instance. On the other hand, these kids rarely have to think for themselves or have to struggle for knowledge. What would happen to this generation if the 'lights went off' so to speak.
All in all, I believe that this generation is very different from those older. The world they are living in has hit 1000 miles per hour and the constant changes they face in the economy, environment and social fabric is a challenge that has not been faced any other generation. These kids will most likely never know a world that is static. This made me think of the Chinese proverb, 'May you live in interesting times.' Some see it as a blessing and others a curse. Guess we will get to find out as these are the most interesting of times indeed.
Children of this generation are now truly living in a wireless world. These children will not know a world where a trillion pieces of information is unavailable to them at an instant. This has made me think a lot about whether or not this a good change in our society. On one hand, the children of today will have a wealth of knowledge available to them that is unparalleled. I think in my field about how TripAdvisor.com has changed the entire way businesses are marketed for instance. On the other hand, these kids rarely have to think for themselves or have to struggle for knowledge. What would happen to this generation if the 'lights went off' so to speak.
All in all, I believe that this generation is very different from those older. The world they are living in has hit 1000 miles per hour and the constant changes they face in the economy, environment and social fabric is a challenge that has not been faced any other generation. These kids will most likely never know a world that is static. This made me think of the Chinese proverb, 'May you live in interesting times.' Some see it as a blessing and others a curse. Guess we will get to find out as these are the most interesting of times indeed.
Sunday, October 30, 2011
Sunday Soliloquy - Am I in Mid-life Now?
Am I officially in mid-life now?
Evidence For:
1. This week I received an email inviting me to my high school reunion. I had to go back and check the records twice, it couldn't have been 20 years since I graduated from high school?
2. I have a kid that is choosing which high school she is going to next year (and have been married for 13 years).
3. I then looked in the mirror and of what hair is left, most of it is now gray.
4. My back is constantly sore and I am starting to feel arthritis in my hands (especially when it is cold and damp).
5. I used the phrase 'when I was sitting in your seat' in class last week to talk about paper ticketing versus online sales.
6. It is harder to keep my waist reduced even though my appetite is shrinking.
Evidence Against:
1. I had a child that turned one yesterday and another who is five - so they are still little.
2. I haven't turned 40 quite yet.
3. I can still run and beat the children at almost everything. Though they can outlast me at times.
4. I feel young...
Did I slip into mid-life and didn't get the memo or is this just my shot across the bow reminding me it is coming in the next few years?
Evidence For:
1. This week I received an email inviting me to my high school reunion. I had to go back and check the records twice, it couldn't have been 20 years since I graduated from high school?
2. I have a kid that is choosing which high school she is going to next year (and have been married for 13 years).
3. I then looked in the mirror and of what hair is left, most of it is now gray.
4. My back is constantly sore and I am starting to feel arthritis in my hands (especially when it is cold and damp).
5. I used the phrase 'when I was sitting in your seat' in class last week to talk about paper ticketing versus online sales.
6. It is harder to keep my waist reduced even though my appetite is shrinking.
Evidence Against:
1. I had a child that turned one yesterday and another who is five - so they are still little.
2. I haven't turned 40 quite yet.
3. I can still run and beat the children at almost everything. Though they can outlast me at times.
4. I feel young...
Did I slip into mid-life and didn't get the memo or is this just my shot across the bow reminding me it is coming in the next few years?
Sunday, October 23, 2011
Sunday Soliloquy
Yesterday, we went to an open house of high schools for Robyn (for Heather's take on the event click here). As we went through the rows of schools, we knew we had three choices in mind before we started with an open-mind to see what else was out there that we may not know about.
The first school we came up to was one which we thought it was going to be a good fit from the moment we moved to Charleston. We went up to their booth and was basically ignored. We gathered the material from the table and then dared to ask a couple of questions. The answers could not have been shorter or more curt.
We then went to the table of the second school. This is a well known school and is generally regarded as the best academic high school in the state. The impression we got from them was that our daughter, who scores regularly in the top five percentile on her statewide standardized tests, would be privileged to go there. The representative was just dripping with snobbishness.
I was then starting to feel like we were in the Three Bears story. The first was too cold, the second was too hot.
Our third stop was better. The representative was nice and asked Robyn questions. She presented the program well but it didn't seem like a good fit for her. It was luke warm...We then thought ut oh!
We then hit the front and a school we considered a possibility but never really thought in depth about. The representative took time with us. He patiently answered questions, presented the program in a way that would be student focused and went out of his way to make Robyn feel wanted. In other words, it feel just right.
We are still going to go to the open houses of all four schools but the lesson as always, is that if you are going to have someone represent your school, please make sure it is someone who has some concept of recruiting.
The first school we came up to was one which we thought it was going to be a good fit from the moment we moved to Charleston. We went up to their booth and was basically ignored. We gathered the material from the table and then dared to ask a couple of questions. The answers could not have been shorter or more curt.
We then went to the table of the second school. This is a well known school and is generally regarded as the best academic high school in the state. The impression we got from them was that our daughter, who scores regularly in the top five percentile on her statewide standardized tests, would be privileged to go there. The representative was just dripping with snobbishness.
I was then starting to feel like we were in the Three Bears story. The first was too cold, the second was too hot.
Our third stop was better. The representative was nice and asked Robyn questions. She presented the program well but it didn't seem like a good fit for her. It was luke warm...We then thought ut oh!
We then hit the front and a school we considered a possibility but never really thought in depth about. The representative took time with us. He patiently answered questions, presented the program in a way that would be student focused and went out of his way to make Robyn feel wanted. In other words, it feel just right.
We are still going to go to the open houses of all four schools but the lesson as always, is that if you are going to have someone represent your school, please make sure it is someone who has some concept of recruiting.
Sunday, October 16, 2011
Sunday Soliloquy
Why do educators complain about the quality of students today? I don't think this generation is really different than any other one. There are those that want to work and achieve and then there are those that are not as motivated. The students of today are for the most part, good kids trying to find their way in a ever-changing environment.
Speaking of ever changing evnvironments,
Is sleep vastly overrated? As a parent I go with less sleep that I did when I was having fun in undergrad. Then again, I think I have just as much fun now and I can actually recall most of the memories the next day. Then again the headaches the next day are still similar except when I stopped drinking those headaches went away, I can not stop my children.
Speaking of ever changing evnvironments,
Is sleep vastly overrated? As a parent I go with less sleep that I did when I was having fun in undergrad. Then again, I think I have just as much fun now and I can actually recall most of the memories the next day. Then again the headaches the next day are still similar except when I stopped drinking those headaches went away, I can not stop my children.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)