An Open Letter to Staff

By Dr. Michael McManmon, College Internship Program Founder

With thoughts of summer having quickly faded, we look forward to a new year of working with our students and families: Some quotes to work by:

“A dream is your creative vision for your life in the future. You must break out of your current comfort zone and become comfortable with the unfamiliar and the unknown”. – Dennis Waitley. Our students are being challenged in new environments, with new studies, life skills etc. Encourage them to be willing to put up with the discomfort to change and go forward in their lives.

“So celebrate what you have accomplished, but raise the bar a little higher each time you succeed” – Mia Ham

Upper classmen need to be told that more is expected of them, they need to be challenged to take further action and not sit on their accomplishments.

“How do we break out of the box we’re stuck in? There are lots of reasons why we stay in the box, but the number one reason is fear of failure” – Donald Winkler

Teaching our curriculum is the best way of assisting someone “to break out”. Structure, discipline and knowledge on an hour by hour basis assist the student understanding and taking action on the critical areas they need to grow in.

Your support comes in many ways, being a friend is less important than setting up the structure for them to win and supporting them to get it done. Support sometimes means making them toe the line so that they can complete something or cook a meal, finish a paper, or ask someone to coffee. They have to experience overcoming, being successful to gain self esteem.

When they leave the program, then they get it what you did for them, how you stood for them to be more than they could be, how you didn’t take from them, but gave to them. Just like in parenting, they just don’t get it until they are old enough to look back and see it. Be tough and kind.

-Michael

Similar Posts:

• CIP National Advisory Board Members Honored by GRASP
• More Drama at Brevard!
• New CIP Program, CSP to Open in August
• The Importance of Interdependence and Relationships

View Comments