My eleven-year old daughter Emma and I drive to Rolla, MO this weekend to pick up Charlie - that's Charlie, an eight-week old Golden Retreiver puppy we have been waiting on for a few weeks now. Charlie represents a promise made after we lost a good old Golden this past summer to age and illness. And while this is not the best time in the life of the family to add to the pet population, it is a promise kept and I am secretly looking forward to Charlie probably more than I know.
Like with Charlie, presidential transitions have an element of measuring promises made and kept; they also have the same elements of expectant chaos, the potential for cleaning up messes, and learning to live together in new relationships. And we hope all the while that the new member doesn't chew on anyone's favorite shoes.
My own transition has been guided largely by instinct and common sense, the commitment to not attempt to be anyone that I am not, the willingness to learn and the sense to say 'I don't know' when I don't. I've also looked to the advice of experts on presidential transitions and have been encouraged by what I see. The general advice goes something like this, in bullet point form:
Like with Charlie, presidential transitions have an element of measuring promises made and kept; they also have the same elements of expectant chaos, the potential for cleaning up messes, and learning to live together in new relationships. And we hope all the while that the new member doesn't chew on anyone's favorite shoes.
My own transition has been guided largely by instinct and common sense, the commitment to not attempt to be anyone that I am not, the willingness to learn and the sense to say 'I don't know' when I don't. I've also looked to the advice of experts on presidential transitions and have been encouraged by what I see. The general advice goes something like this, in bullet point form:
- Pay Close Attention to Relationships
- Learn to Listen Very, Very Well
- Build a Reservoir of Goodwill
- Seek and Maintain a Personal Balance (oops)
- Establish and Sustain a Connection to the Campus
- Model Honesty and Openness
- Do Not Move Too Quickly
It is good to feel some affirmation from 'the experts' of my own approach to the transition to the presidency of St. Charles Community College. I continue to appreciate the open dialogues we have had throughout November and look forward to the remainder of these sessions. I wish everyone a restful and family-filled Thanksgiving season and thank you again for your warm welcome.
I look forward personally to my family's first Thanksgiving in our new home with Charlie.
Welcome to Charlie. Maybe you could bring him to a faculty meeting...my guess is he would help with every one of the points of advice you have listed :-)
ReplyDeleteThere is at least one university library that has experimented with checking out a dog to students during high stress times of the semester. Perhaps if Charlie decides to look for a career outside the home, he could find one in academics.
ReplyDeleteI love the idea. We'll need to let him mature and find his inner calm first...
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