Are you a thankful learner? Do you express gratitude to those who are helping you reach your goals of achieving a college credential? In this season of Thanksgiving, I always reflect on all of the things I have to be thankful for, not the least of which is great teachers and mentors in my life. It’s easy to get caught up, especially as an adult learner trying to balance school, work and well, life and forget that the professors and instructors on the other side of the screen are actual people. People who also have to balance their work (i.e. teaching and mentoring you) with the rest of their lives – their families, their own learning and their community commitments. I have been as guilty as anyone of being the demanding student who forgets that the person on the side of the screen might be dealing with life issues of their own. I once email yelled at a professor, who I later found out was dealing with her mother’s very serious illness and that is why she hadn’t gotten back to me. Oops. I did send my sincere apologies and am still very thankful for the lesson she taught, or rather re-taught me, to be more considerate. To understand that at any given point in time, anyone you interact with may be struggling with issues you don’t know about. So be kind. Be understanding. And be thankful.
Thank You - Danke by AlicePopkorn on Flickr
Take a moment over the next couple of weeks, when you’ll likely have at least a tiny break from school, to reflect on who has helped you get to the point you are in your journey to a credential – be that a certificate or a doctorate, a bachelors or an associate degree. Then reach out with a simple thank you. It can be a phone call, an email, a Facebook, tweet or even a handwritten letter. Whatever the format, know it will be appreciated.
I’ll close with a great quote from Oprah Winfrey - Be thankful for what you have; you’ll end up having more. If you concentrate on what you don’t have, you will never, ever have enough.
Cali Morrison is the project director for Transparency by Design which powers the College Choices for Adults website. She 
holds a bachelor of arts in public relations from Western Kentucky University and a master of education in adult and higher education from Montana State University. In December 2008 she was awarded a graduate certificate in women’s studies which she completed fully online through Western Kentucky University. All of her post-bachelor’s work was completed while working full-time, volunteering in her community and taking care of her family. She understands adult learners because she is an adult learner.
Photo credit: Thank You – Danke by AlicePopkorn on Flickr
