Though I’ve often used popular culture to discuss concepts, many of my blogs have been very oriented to my academic passion of organizational behavior. This post is different as it’s more of a reflection regarding my favorite time of the year.
When I was younger, I always loved summer (and I still do), but I’ve learned to like fall even better since coming back to Saint Vincent as a faculty member. Though every day at Saint Vincent is a good day, there’s no better place to be than Saint Vincent in the fall with the leaves turning, the cooler air and students arriving back on campus. This fall, I’m particularly excited as my fiancée and I will be married in the Basilica!
There are several reasons why I love Saint Vincent in the fall and the below are but a few:
- The students. Most importantly, the students are back. I look forward to seeing the familiar faces of students whom I have had in previous semesters as well as the new students. I teach several freshman undergraduate courses, some of which are early in the morning. I realized on the first day of fall semester several years ago during a Monday morning 8:30 a.m. class that this particular course will be the first collegiate academic experience for these students. I still remember my first college class a decade and a half later (it was Dr. Sommers’ “Contemporary Europe” at SVC) and the positive impact that it had on me. As I reflect, I am constantly reminded of the impact that my course could have on students and the responsibility that I have to help provide a positive experience. As an academic, I of course care about the research that I do, but I consider myself to be a teacher primarily and look forward to the start of teaching courses anew each academic year.
- The atmosphere. With the students returning, there is very much an energy at Saint Vincent in the fall. It seems amplified as the leaves continue to change and the air gets cooler. I love looking out the window of Alfred 42 and seeing the horizon: the mist, the various colors and the beautiful fall skies. I love walking around campus in the fall.
- The opportunities. For as small of a campus as Saint Vincent is, there’s always a lot going on and it seems like there is even more bustle throughout the fall. Now that it’s fall again, I look forward to attending some lectures, panel discussions, student club meetings, dinners and other of the various activities that are open to the Saint Vincent community.
If you’re a Saint Vincent student, I hope that you will cherish the autumn time at Saint Vincent and welcome back your friends and especially welcome the new freshmen and first semester graduate students. If you’re an alumnus, prospective student or friend of SVC, I hope you can come back and visit the college this fall.
P.S. Since this blog was about visiting campus and taking advantage of fall activities, I thought I’d make just a small plug. Don’t forget that there will be an Information Session for the Master of Science in Management: Operational Excellence program at 5:40 p.m. in Alfred 42 on Oct. 5. All are welcome – I hope to see you there!
What do you think? What is your favorite time of the year to be at Saint Vincent? Looking forward to hearing your experiences at michael.urick@stvincent.edu, through Facebook (www.facebook.com/urickmj), through LinkedIn (www.linkedin.com/pub/michael-urick/a3/775/5b/), or in the comments below.
Dr. Michael J. Urick