This place is serious. They've scheduled three eight-hour days of orientation for us before we begin classes next week. And it's not just a tour of campus, a friendly meet-your-profs coffee and how to evacuate the building if there is a fire drill kind of orientation. Today we have lectures on self-care, the capstone project (which actually begins in our first term) and a first review of the many policies we'll have to follow (ie, privacy, privacy, privacy).
As I listen to introductions and look at the schedule I'm reminded of the phrase "beginner's mind." Beginner's mind is dropping our expectations and preconceived ideas about something and seeing things with an open mind and fresh eyes. However, if you're in an orientation session (after decades as a professional), beginner's mind is a challenge. That's me. As a former producer and administrator who has led multiple meetings, conferences and orientations I am evaluating all of it through my own professional filter....do we really need this much time on this subject? this presenter is not sticking to the subject!
But it seems that student support really has a handle on this, they don't need me to help them and they really are giving us information that we truly need. Beginner's mind. Stay open.
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