If not the end of an era ...

... it was close last week: a final director/officer meeting and a final Advisory Council meeting. It was fitting to have this Council meeting so close to the end of my career since it was EducationQuest's Advisory Council that opened the door to me to come to EducationQuest. I was asked to speak to the Council way back in 2001 about the importance of "keeping the dream alive" for 8th grade students. Twelve years later, I'm happy to say that EducationQuest has expanded its reach to middle school students ... and no, not much of that is due to me other than my continually harping away at a theme! Ha. 

EducationQuest's Advisory Council is filled with practictioners who live the motto to which EducationQuest has long-subscribed: "Because of something I did today, one more student went to college." We have the head of counseling for Omaha Public Schools and Lincoln Public Schools ... we have TRIO representatives and high school principals ... college admissions directors and financial aid directors ... but mostly what we have are people with a passion for making sure that all students have the RIGHT to attend college. Not all students will attend ... nobody thinks that this is the model. But here we believe that no student should be turned away because he/she can't afford it. We also have been firm advocates for students of color ... and for first generation students. 

Are you a first-generation student? Many of us ... at least many of us who are "my age" ... are. We are the first in our families to attend college. Once upon a time, my youngest brother Mark called me to thank me for going to college. "Why thank me?" I asked. He answered, "Because then the rest of us knew we could." Too much credit to me ... but a lesson there for sure. It is the BELIEF that college is for you that can make a difference in your life. 

So today ... and for each day hereafter ... if you want to do something for me, you will encourage someone whom you know ... or someone that you know needs to hear the words ... to go to college. College ... two year or four year ... makes no never mind. :) The only thing that matters is that you go out and make a difference. So just do it! 

PS ...Don't let any of your dreams ... or the dreams of those around you ... be "Dust in the Wind" ... :)