I firmly believe that ongoing training is critical, no matter what your career field. Especially in this day and age of computer technology, social media, and hand-held devices like smartphones that allow us to access information instantaneously. As technology evolves, so do we--in every sense--mentally, perhaps spiritually, physically--and as we evolve as individuals, as a society, as a world, our career fields evolve and change as well. Therefore, in order to stay up-to-date and compliant with regulations, it's crucial that we take the time to learn the new rules and regs, procedures, and other components that help us stay present in our career. I feel this is especially important for those of us interacting in any way (instructing, counseling, admitting, etc.) with people enrolled in an institution of higher learning. Those students have entered our institution with a dream and by working there we have said, "follow me and I will lead you to your dream." The only way to lead students in the right direction is by having current information to teach them. I've only been a Delta employee for a few weeks, but one of the things that I already admire about the organization is their dedication to the ongoing learning of their employees. They have devised a program that is well-organized and flexible and accessible to all employees to help them learn as new employees and/or help seasoned employees remain up-to-date.
Someone else had commented that we are always growing and learning, and I must state that I agree. And how fortunate are we who get to work in at an institution of higher learning where we are encouraged to think critically, think higher, and challenge not only our students, but ourselves. There is a quote that I learned from one of my graduate professors that I have held onto and continue to think of almost daily. The quote is, "Without conflict, there is no growth." And this is true in so many realms. Often, it is an internal conflict--a challenge that one must figure out how to overcome. And when that conflict is resolved, it is amazing to realize how far you have come and exciting to think about where you are going.
With all of that said, I appreciate the ongoing learning activities that Delta provides and I look forward to participating in some that are of even more pertinence to my position in instructing students in the classroom. Keep challenging yourself and learning!
