Stigmas can change, as last week’s post suggested. I’ve seen that happen since I walked in the doors of a community college as a freshman, since I walked out of the same college’s doors after 38 years of counseling and teaching, and since the publication of a book that sings the praises of nontraditional students … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Thanks Should Be Given Daily, But Posts Can Be Shared Less Frequently
TURNING POINTS—Smart First Steps in Higher Education
Slowly but surely, stigmas about community college are being replaced by accurate (and positive) perspectives. Just ask admissions staff at Ivy League and other top tier schools about community colleges. In a recent New York Times article, Laura Pappano cites Williams College, Brown University, and Muhlenberg College as selective schools that are finding community college … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Smart First Steps in Higher Education
TURNING POINTS—When Gratitude Is Hard To Come By
People in recovery have seen some things. They can make great workers in the field of recovery because they have made the journey through addiction to something beyond sobriety. Understand: maintaining sobriety after years of addiction is no small accomplishment, but people in recovery want to become more than “a sober drunk,” to use an … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—When Gratitude Is Hard To Come By
TURNING POINTS—The Ripple Effects of Kindness
Speak with someone who is recovering from illness or injury, and there’s a good chance that you’ll hear about the role that other people have played in their story. Others can make a difference for the better when we’re battling sickness. They can provide turning points in our lives. Just knowing that we have people … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—The Ripple Effects of Kindness
TURNING POINTS—From Rucks And Scrums To Ballads And Two-Steps
About 9:30 on Friday evening, drummer/friend Jerry Howard and my other band-mates will start banging out the intro to “Do That Thing,” and I’ll jump in with the vocal to kick off another night of dance music at Philadelphia’s Mermaid Inn. It’ll be the most fun we’ve had in months. And it’s something I wouldn’t … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—From Rucks And Scrums To Ballads And Two-Steps
TURNING POINTS—Learning Perspective
Real education is transformative. For nontraditional college student Gina Barreca, it added to and changed her perspective. The curious and open-minded Brooklyn kid moved from one learning experience to another, and today she is a professor of English at University of Connecticut and a highly regarded author. Her writing can be very funny, and I … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Learning Perspective
TURNING POINTS—Special Places
Some places stick out in your life. They might even serve as turning points. The main photo today is of Cottage 8 at Cill Rialiag village, an artist retreat on the southwest coast of Ireland, where I spent April of 2012 writing a first draft of Open Admissions that was as rough as the Kerry … Continue reading TURNING POINTS—Special Places
