Here in Pennsylvania, the weather has let us know that the holidays and winter are fast approaching. With the changing of the seasons comes the opportunity to reflect and acknowledge the accomplishments of the past year while giving thanks for the remarkable team at Commonwealth University that has made it all possible.
Reflecting on this past year fills me with pride and
gratitude for our Commonwealth University family. Together, we continue to work
every day toward providing students a life-changing education. I am continually
inspired by the classroom stories about everything our students are doing,
learning, and achieving together. Great achievements are happening at
Commonwealth U thanks to our dedicated faculty and staff who hold our students
as their first priority.
It is easy to get caught up in the “busyness” of our life
and work—to keep pushing and striving to achieve the next goal, submit the next
assignment, complete the next project. This tight focus and striving often
prevents us from taking a step back and recognizing how far we have come and
all we have accomplished.
As we enter this season of gratitude and thanksgiving, I
encourage you to do just that. Take time to consider the strides you have made
in your life, your work and your pursuits over the past year. Perhaps this year
marked monumental change in your life, moving away from home, beginning a new
journey, taking on a challenge that, at the time, seemed insurmountable.
Perhaps this year brings you closer to the accomplishment of major goals and
milestones. Whatever situation you are in, I urge you to be gracious with
yourself—to look back on the achievement of both the big and small goals with
pride.
This time of the semester can be challenging as we look to
finish strong and complete our end-of- semester tasks and assignments. Taking
time to connect and socialize can be difficult this time of year given the
expectations we place upon ourselves and the impending rush of the holiday
season. I encourage you to reach out for the help and support of your family,
friends, professors, and staff. During times of stress and anxiety, it is
important to look to one another for support. As a Commonwealth University
family, we care about one another. So, let’s protect one another and take time
for the things that matter most this time of year.
I encourage each of us, as we endeavor to end the semester
strong and tackle our holiday responsibilities, to prioritize time for
reflection, self-care, and gratitude. Don’t be afraid to take a break. Go for a
walk, call a friend you haven’t talked to in months, have lunch with a coworker
or classmate. Tell someone how much their friendship or encouragement has meant
to you over the past few months. We are all at our best when we’re surrounded
by people we care about and doing the small things that lift our spirits and
fill our hearts with gratitude. That is my hope for all of us as we enter this
holiday season.
Bashar W. Hanna, President
