Progress is Better Than Perfection

“Waiting for perfect is never as smart as making progress.” - Seth Godin

Well, there it is. I guess I have been waiting for the perfect time to write my next blog post. After 35 years combined in higher education and public secondary education, I officially retired in June. The past five months have been full of quiet, reflective moments, along with a fair amount of golf, beachcombing, brisk walks, scenic bike rides, reading, and relaxing morning coffees. Oh. And some nudging from a trusted friend/colleague who said, “Just write. People want to read your thoughts and opinions. It doesn’t have to be perfect.” Okay.

Even though it feels a bit like cheating, I am borrowing a page from the playbook of one of my beloved sports columnists with The Boston Globe, Dan Shaughnessy, who frequently tosses up wise tidbits from his perspective on the sporting world. As I continue to unpack my professional career mentally and physically, there are a few thoughts, opinions, and observations that have been marinating in my mind. 

Starting with my first (post-Masters) professional student affairs job at the University of Maine in 1989, I have maintained a “Sunshine File” where I tuck positive mementos, thank you notes, encouraging quotes, and other little slices of the goodness that people (95 % students) have shared with me. When I cleared out my high school office at the end of June, I carted many boxes of education related “stuff” home to sort through. It sat until golf season slowed down. Recently, I noticed an interesting pattern . . . the number of handwritten notes I received from 1990 to 1999 was astounding. I miss those days. A time before the proliferation of Blackberries, smartphones, and constant access to email and instant messages. To this day, there is no substitute for a handwritten card.

(Note: the Hamilton College Student Assembly presented me with my first Blackberry in 2000 because they were tired of watching me juggle a ridiculous stack of file folders and notebooks to every meeting on campus. I think I embarrassed them! Special shout out to O’Keefe and Bugliari for the gift and for guiding me toward the 21st Century.)

Reflection. Graduate preparation programs in student affairs administration would be wise to require a course on the teenage brain, if not already in place. Ten years ago, switching jobs from college deaning to school counseling presented a new learning curve for me, including the layers of the MA state licensure process. Although credentialed with an M.Ed., I enrolled in a series of five secondary education courses for additional graduate credits. Absolutely the most meaningful and useful of the courses was “The Teenage Brain.” After spending most of my career with “people in process,” also known as college students, this course lined up the biological/neurological facts and brain development which explained students’ general impulsivity and unexpected actions. The “life of the party” limbic system is moving full speed ahead while the steady, more rational prefrontal cortex is still developing during the college years. I might have benefited from some of this insight during a few conduct board hearings and Monday morning reality checks with first-year students. Then again, ain’t college fun?!

And speaking of college . . .

I have never been shy about my dislike of standardized testing. But I also accept the fact that my ideas around this subject are a little bit “pie in the sky.” If a college/university requires a standardized test score, then the college/university should set up a schedule and administer the tests (ACT, SAT etc.). Back in my UMaine days as a new professional, I worked a bunch of Saturdays proctoring the SAT and other admission tests. Colleges/universities have more staff and more buildings open on weekends than public high schools. Something to consider.

Also . . . Dear national media, please refer to the buildings that house college students as residence halls rather than dorms. Yep, I know one word is preferable to two, But “dorm” implies a dormitory which is essentially a building full of nothing but beds. Residence halls are vibrant living spaces with comfortable common areas that foster human interaction and teach socialization skills to “people in process.” Residential. Not just a place to sleep.

Let’s bring this back around to sports, since I am modeling Shaughnessy’s playbook . . . 2024 has certainly positioned itself as the year of the female athlete. Paris Olympics, anyone? Other than a few clamming adventures, my summer was almost all about golf. Like tons of golf. As in “I should have purchased stock in TaylorMade (a dozenTP5x would be nice, Santa Claus).” As my handicap has improved, along with my short game, here are some golf-related thoughts and chunks of advice for the newly minted college students out there as they approach the midyear mark:

• Keep your own score. Golfers are expected to abide by the rules without supervision and report accurate scores, maintaining truthfulness and a respect for the other players. Accountability and integrity. College students are expected to submit their own work for evaluation on time and maintain an understanding of academic expectations. Wise college students keep track of their grades, exams, and assignments to confirm they match up with their professors’ “scores.”

• Maintain a good pace. Most golf courses post a time frame for completing 9 and/or 18 holes. Players should be conscientious about moving forward in a reasonable manner, ensuring there is not too large of a gap between holes. College students are expected to maintain a minimum GPA and complete required courses within a designated progression. Craft a plan. Moving forward at a good pace over four years is better than postponing certain courses until the scramble of senior year. Trust me on this one . . . (Colgate names withheld – they know who they are.)

• Adopt a flexible strategy. Golfers map a strategy for each hole, including distance, hazards, and weather conditions. Understanding the landscape/layout of the course helps determine club selection, swing tempo, and stance for each shot. If conditions change or a mistake is made, the player adapts and moves on. New college students are adjusting to higher level academics while navigating social dynamics, roommate issues, a bit of homesickness, and a new sense of freedom. Allowing room for mistakes and/or changes along the way can make for a more enjoyable college experience. Recalculating your route is perfectly fine.

December and January can be exciting and exhausting months for students and families. Be kind to yourselves. Enjoy the time together and please keep your sense of humor. More on the nocturnal habits of the American college student coming this spring . . . Happy New Year!