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:
- "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?
- Embrace the human spirit. What is your passion? He uses this question when interviewing potential employees. When you know your passion, live it everyday.
- Dream big. Don't let anybody take your dream away. Believe in your dream even when no one else does. What are your dreams?
- Visualize whatever it is you want out of life. Focus on the "what" not the "how." What do you want?
- 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?
