“Wherever you go, go with all your heart.” ~Confucius

Congratulations to our SMSU School of Education 2016 graduates. Using the quote above and giving it a twist, our words of wisdom for all of you are, “wherever you teach, teach with all your heart.” The youth of the world deserve nothing less!

You’re off to great places…

One step in front of the other is how we make our way through life. Sounds easy enough, right? Well – it turns out some steps are just tiny, little inches forward while some steps are giant leaps. Sometimes we are prepared and just keep moving while other times we are not so much — and just fall over…but get back up!

No matter the step – three basic guidelines to keep you upright in your journey.

Follow the leader – when you know it’s right. Make your own path if they aren’t going in the right direction.

Walk with a buddy or two. Humans are collaborative in nature, and it makes the journey so much more enjoyable. Stick together and succeed.

Say thanks. As you go along your life’s journey, remember to thank those folks who have given you lots of encouragement along the way. Here’s a good example:

THANK YOU, Ken Stanek, now retired elementary principal. Thirty years ago you gave this hometown girl a chance in the education ecosystem. Even though I thought I was fired before I ever started because the school board back then questioned your hiring policies because “locals” we’re not hired. And the newspaper printed that doubt in the newspaper for the whole community to read, you, sir, stuck to your philosophy and by my side. You gave me my educational wings…and I flew! Thank you, Mr. Stanek, from the bottom of my heart.

Now thirty years later your granddaughter is one of our SMSU graduates and you stand by her side encouraging her to use her educational wings to fly.

Graduates, it’s time to spread your educational wings and soar! Go out there and teach with all your heart.

We are your #proudprofs.

Stay Calm & graduate on!
Profs Dr. Wendy & Dr. V.