A new year is an opportunity. A chance for a fresh start. At Saint Mary-of-the-Woods College (SMWC), we value being there for students, no matter what. From offering services in the Learning Resource Center to giving students a safe space through the Counseling Center; The Woods ensures a well-rounded support system for students. In the spirit of the new year, we took some words from faculty and staff members of SMWC. Check out what advice they had to share!
Keep moving forward!
“‘Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.’ – Maria Robinson
I started out many years ago taking one class at a time, I knew I wanted to finish my education. It was a slow process, but it was so worth it! What lies down the journey’s end has not been revealed yet. Life is what we make it. We can choose to live with all our failures or learn from them and move forward. The only person I ever found holding me back, was looking at me in the mirror.
Good Luck this semester dear ones. You can do this! You can make it! Take it from someone who knows! Please remember to lean on and thank your support team! They are always there for you! You are not alone! Go Pomeroys!”
Martha Reed, associate director of career center
Put in the work, no matter what!
“The best advice that I have for students is to always come to class, submit papers on time and keep in touch with your professor.”
Monica Baez-Holley ‘00, Ph.D., associate professor of French and Spanish
“If I were to give a student one piece of advice, it would be to attend class. I believe that the #1 reason a student fails a class is because of poor attendance. If a student tries, faculty will do all they can to help them.”
Rebecca Andrews, MFA, professor of graphic design, department chair
“One of your best avenues to success is going to be to get to know your professors. Visit office hours, ask questions in class and let us know when you need help. We are here for you!”
Antonia Taylor, MA, associate director of academic services for student success, senior lecturer for languages and literature
Create an Avenue for Success!
“In my opinion, the best advice for students is to create a plan and organize what you have to complete in prioritized fashion. Second, devote times to self-care, which could be all manners of activity, such as reading, creating art, developing friendships or registering for activities outside of the classroom. Finally, develop a plan for what you plan as far as what you what to learn in college and what you will do when you complete your degree. This relates to what you see yourself doing in five years, and what does that looks like in the overall picture of your life…
Planning for small goals is important, as well as planning for long-term goals. Visualize what you want and see yourself doing it, if it is not something that you can visualize, then it might not be the correct path for you.”
Makoto Omoto, associate director of academic access and support services
Make time for you!
“As you begin the new year, I hope you can take the initiative to make your mental and emotional health a priority. I challenge each of you to carve out at least 15 minutes every day to focus on enhancing your mental health and reducing stress in your life.
This could be 15 minutes of yoga-type stretching and breathing in the morning, a 15-minute walk through the trees contemplating positive self-thoughts, or a 15-minute meditation before going to bed each night. You might even do all three now and then! Whatever works for you, do it EVERY day. I’d love to hear about what works for you!”
Penny Quinn, Ph.D., associate professor of kinesiology and wellness, chair of science and mathematics
Don’t give up!
“Keeping resolutions is such a fragile thing. The reason so many of our resolutions fail is because we have such high expectations when we make them, but the first time that we are faced with the reality that we will fall short, we make the mistake of giving up on our goals altogether. This reminds me of a simple quote: ‘Don’t let yesterday use up too much of today.’-Will Rogers.
One of the simplest strategies for keeping a resolution is not to dwell on the times in your daily journey when you fail to keep it. If yesterday didn’t work out as planned, don’t worry about it. Begin your ‘today’ with the same resolve you first started with, and don’t give up!”
Eric Hubbard, MLD, Ph.D. candidate, assistant professor of leadership
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