The Gift of Feedback

Feedback is a gift with an expiration date. Once it’s received, it should be used or reviewed before it spoils the relationship. This was my final thought for a recent #SAchat that stemmed from a Twitter conversation with @Emma_Coomes about how it feels when our feedback seems to fall on deaf ears. The Oxford American Dictionary defines feedback as “information about reactions to a product, a person’s performance of a task, etc., used as a basis for improvement.”

 



Mentor Me & Contribute to the Reciprocity Ring

This summer I'm participating in a virtual Reciprocity Ring started by Amma Marfo, an amazing higher education professional who has a big heart and is super talented. It's wonderful to be part of a group that is women helping other women. Be sure to check out the Reciprocity Ring every week for the latest post and see how you can help someone get closer to their goals. My Reciprocity Ring post is below.

My name is Winnifred but most people call me Winni or Diva. I was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti and grew up in southern CT where I currently live. I have a B.A. in English with a double minor in History and Women’s Studies. I have an M.S.Ed. in Counselor Education which I’ve used in the non-profit sector as an addictions/career counselor as well as working in group homes for those with developmental disabilities and/or mental health issues.

Being Inspired: Lessons Learned at NASPA Region 1 Conference 2013

The 2013 NASPA Region 1 Conference held true to it's theme: Be Inspired....

An insightful and rousing keynote by Dr. Robert E. Johnson, President of Becker College started by quoting Sir Isaac Newton: "every action has an equally forceful reaction." Today's climate is one of the toughest in higher education. The rise of mental health issues, tough economic climate, and lack of academic preparedness make it a hard landscape for not only students, but also staff to navigate. Some key takeaways:

1. "If you want to be inspired, inspire somebody." Inspiration comes from within and you should put it out there into the universe. One of the ways to do so is by creating a vision board. Do you have a vision board? If so, view the vision board daily. If not, try to have at least ten (10) things that help you answer this question - Who are you going to inspire today?
2. Embrace the human spirit. What is your passion? He uses this question when interviewing potential employees. When you know your passion, live it everyday.
3. Dream big. Don't let anybody take your dream away. Believe in your dream even when no one else does. What are your dreams?
4. Visualize whatever it is you want out of life. Focus on the "what" not the "how." What do you want?
5. Never give up on your dream.

Dr. Johnson gave an alphabet of inspiring words:

• Accept
• Believe
• Celebrate
• Dedicate
• Educate
• Fight...

What words inspire you?

I'm inspired by the passionate higher education graduate students and professionals that I engage with regularly on Twitter. Here's a pic of @JackKorpob & I finally meeting in person at the conference. If don't follow him on Twitter, you need to. He currently serves as the Region 1 social media coordinator.

The regional conference was an all-around amazing experience. I kept busy volunteering in a general capacity and serving on the silent auction committee. A regional conference is a great place to get involved with Knowledge Communities and engaged with others in the field. What are some ways you're involved in your region?


Don't forget to take time to enjoy the view and local attractions when you're attending conferences. Here I am with my conference roommate Dave about to explore the LL Bean flagship in Freeport, Maine. What do you always make time to do when you're away at a conference?