Howard Wright’s Post

Today, I'm filled with gratitude as I shine a light on Think College, an organization close to my heart. Think College is dedicated to creating inclusive higher education opportunities for individuals with intellectual disabilities. Their commitment to equity and excellence resonates deeply with me, as they tirelessly work to uplift and empower every student. Think College doesn't just focus on education; they champion a mindset of possibility and potential. Their dedication to student-centered research and practice is not just admirable—it's life-changing. Reflecting on the journey of success, I'm reminded of remarkable individuals who defied odds and made a name for themselves despite intellectual disabilities. People like Temple Grandin, whose innovative designs revolutionized the livestock industry, and Chris Burke, whose acting talents graced television screens, stand as shining examples of perseverance and achievement. In my book, "Making Choices, Making Money," I emphasize the importance of making wise decisions for financial independence. And in the journey towards success, one thing remains crystal clear: "The only disability in life is a bad attitude." - Scott Hamilton. Let's remember this powerful truth as we navigate challenges and strive for our dreams. To Think College and all the incredible individuals they support: your dedication inspires me daily. Thank you for making a profound impact on lives and futures. Think College THINK COLLEGE Think College Vermont #ThinkCollege #InclusiveEducation #EducationMatters #Empowerment #Heartfelt #Gratitude #FinancialIndependence #Positivity #Dreams #Inspiration #MakingADifference #LoveAndSupport

BRIGHT COLLEGE YEARS HAS LAUNCHED! My newest novel, Bright College Years, has arrived ... Fast, moving, and funny, Bright College Years brings you back “to those simultaneously halcyon and turbulent days, with that delicious mixture of nostalgia, promise, and regret,” says one review, and “is smart, funny, sweet, bittersweet, heartwarming, heartbreaking, and most of all meaningful—everything college typically is, in short, as well as the life in the ‘real world’ that typically follows.”                         Here's a brief description: When a former close friend and rival is murdered, world-weary but still aspiring optimist Jeffrey goes back to the beginning, to those fraught college years and to her, to make sense of what happened—only to discover that what most needs making sense of is himself. By turns smart, funny, and heart-wrenching, Bright College Years tracks Jeff and an ensemble cast as they navigate the shortest, gladdest, most complex years of life—and then the rest of it.    Coming of age doesn’t only happen to the young. Set primarily at Yale in the 1980s, the book should appeal to all college grads as it explores how our college years and friendships shape our future trajectories and how, looking back, we relate to earlier, often less palatable, versions of ourselves. It’s about time, memory, loves past, present, and maybe future, and how those all tangle together to produce the mysterious complex mess that is you. Its glimpse into the very different world of the 1980s is also a mirror onto today: “A vision of what higher education could be, once was, perhaps could be again,” another review notes, “a mix between the classroom and real relationships, with raw honesty, in the pursuit of ‘full frontal truth’—and a lot of fun at the same time. You’ll enjoy this book.” Did I mention it’s available NOW? Maybe it’s time to finally organize that Zoom book club with your college pals to discuss the book over an escapade down memory lane? Full info and loads of endorsements at the website, but here’s what some folks are saying about it: “A wistful trip in a time machine, back to those college years so filled with fun, friendship, and heartache.” “Philosophical probing meets the nostalgia of memory in this timeless story.” “Both comical and poignant, fast and fun but serious too, a perfect mix of sentimentality, profundity, and college hijinks.” "The rarest of novels: a witty page-turner that's also philosophically astute. A delight." “About many things, really, but most of all about friendship, which is really at the heart of the college experience. You’ll feel yourself hanging out with this gang as they form the relationships that carry on, and confront the fun and the challenges and the heartbreak that make us who we are." “Hilarious, moving, richly-written, thought-provoking and replete with wisdom. A must read.” https://lnkd.in/dJ73dtYU

What was your first semester of college like? Easy? Unexpected? Challenging? Struggles are part of the college experience, but students can weave them into successes. As Denison President Adam Weinberg writes for Grown and Flown®, a bad first semester isn’t cause for panic, but it should spark a serious conversation — and a game plan for the spring. What advice would you give a student looking to bounce back from a challenging semester? https://lnkd.in/gqtCRuvv

What has changed for you in the last year? These reflections obviously are more popular at the beginning of the year, but I wanted to share some things that I've been thinking about as I approach the anniversary of leaving the college athletic training setting. If you read that article, I hope you can connect with this one too. Check it out on my website! https://lnkd.in/esDahEuf

College: A Blurred Picture College. Man, I pictured it differently. Posters plastered everywhere promised a vibrant campus, a launchpad to a future brimming with possibilities. Ragging-free, they said. Safe and sound, they implied. Looking back, my experience feels like a blurred photograph, some parts faded, others painfully sharp. The initial excitement of acceptance simmered down quickly. The promised anti-ragging turned out to be wishful thinking. The biggest letdown? The teachers. Some, it felt, were fueled by frustration, not passion. They weren't there to ignite curiosity, just tick boxes. Pages and pages of theory were dictated, rote memorization the only game in town. Critical thinking? Out the window. It wasn't just the dry content - it was the stifling atmosphere. The college actively discouraged us from attending GATE coaching, even though it clashed with their schedule. Their focus seemed to be on attendance, not on preparing us for the future. Then there were the incidents. Like the time in first semester when a question stumped a teacher, and the answer was a beating. Or the slap for missing attendance. These weren't anomalies, they were gut punches to our morale. Everyone around me felt the pressure, the lack of support. Dropping out was a constant temptation, but for me, it wasn't an option. My family had sacrificed so much for my education. So I trudged on, a knot of dread tightening in my stomach every morning. Finally, graduation day arrived. While classmates wept with bittersweet nostalgia, mine were tears of pure relief. That chapter was closed, the metaphorical prison gates slammed shut behind me. Even now, years later, the memories sting. It's a stolen time I can't get back. But somewhere amidst the anger and frustration, a strange sense of gratitude peeks through. Those four years, though brutal, taught me resilience. They showed me how to adapt, how to find alternative ways to learn and grow when the system failed. They instilled a quiet strength, a determination to carve my own path. College wasn't the technicolor dream I'd envisioned, but it left its mark nonetheless. Now, with a clearer picture, I move forward, ready to build a brighter future, one lesson learned at a time.

We are at the season of college decisions. I see people rushing through to make their choices on what college they should enroll to. I have heard people telling us "You could have just joined". It's very hard to watch that students after completing their bachelor's degree, aim to enroll in any college based solely on their marks, without assessing whether the college or course is genuinely suitable for them. And here I am right in middle of it. This raises an important question: Should we focus on getting into a prestigious college, or should we prioritize choosing a course that matches our interests. Our experiences in our past college have given us valuable lessons, of what to choose and what not to. Here I am, going through countless articles, conversation with Linkedin connections, to know what's right for me eventhough it triggers me about the uncertainity of where I'll be in two years. Choosing a college isn't only about its academic space, it about finding a new home, shaping networks and especially that can bring peace to our mental health. Especially considering my identity, the environment I select will significantly impact my personal growth and sense of belonging. It's about choosing friends, mentors and shaping our way for our next very important few years. This is where we decide where our inner child can truly excel and benefit that alighn with our interests and bring peace. Its not an easy task you all. Feel free to share your versions. #CollegeDecisions #DreamsandRealities #SafeSpace

MANY THOUGHTS TODAY ABOUT COLLEGE ARE O.F.F. What do I mean by O.F.F.? How can parents avoid it to challenge and support their teens? O - Outdated College today is very different from college “back in the day” in good and not-so-good ways. Of course college is expensive, so are many other things we want. Have you seen your grocery or entertainment bills lately? Oh my! However, there are so many ways to cut college costs, use different options, and make it work for you and your family’s college goals. F - Founded in limits In my work with students, parents, and educators over the last 25 years, a recurring thought/statement starts with… “When I…” or “We used to…” and even “Why can’t/don’t/won’t you ___ like ____?” These thoughts, while based on individual experiences and probably meant to help, may also put zip ties on the minds, hearts, and dreams of students to think “if that happened to my ____, then how am I different,” or “can I do it?” F - Fearful What is at the root of your thoughts and feelings about college? Your family, upbringing, past experiences, regrets, missed opportunities, “popular opinion,” comparison, replayed experiences of others, or current situations? Even when based on real situations, negative feelings can embed fear, doubt, and procrastination in teens that limits their dreams, changes future plans, and blocks progress. And repeatedly sharing feelings, ideas, thoughts, and beliefs can shift those of others. Is your teen interested in college? Even if the path is not clear or fully visible, there are options. Want to know more? Let’s talk about it. Comment “College Help” to schedule a 15-minute call and take one more step away from the O.F.F. way. You’ll leave with a few “right now steps.” #CollegeConsiderationsBymgm #college #parents #grandparents #familycollegeplanning #collegeadmissionsconsulting

“[Students] benefit deeply from the profound impact of professors who have taken the time to care for themselves and invest in their own growth.” Before you return to campus this fall, Meridith Balas, Ph.D. (West Virginia University) suggests dedicating some of your summer break—whether it’s a few weeks or a few stolen moments—to self-care. Read more about how reflection on your last course, reading for pleasure, and more can set you up for your best semester yet: https://lnkd.in/eaawfJ-e #HigherEducation #Education #Summer #GrowthMindSet

While this piece shares my experience, here are 12 things #collegesanduniversities can do to #SAVE-THE-12 percent of first time in college students who won't be back on campus in January for the spring semester. 1. Compare this semester's enrollment list to spring enrollment and find out who is not re-enrolled, then act 2. Send every student a holiday message letting them know you look forward to seeing them in the Spring 3. Plan a "Spring Back" event to welcome students to the new semester 4. Publicize the "Spring Back" Event and offer free food 5. Plan for a day of calling those who did not return during Spring Drop/Add 6. Create a #mini-mester course (6 weeks) in Student Life Skills for students who return and had academic challenges in the fall 7. Ensure #faculty who see the value in learning & people teach the SLS class 8. Make sure students are taking a #course in the program of interest in the spring, and not just general education courses. 9. Make students aware of #emergencyaid programs you have 10. Encourage faculty to send a note of #appreciation to their Fall classes 11. Share #stories of #currentstudents who thought about quitting but did not 12. Submit a story in your #localnewspaper elevating the fact the colleges and universities lose 12% of their students on average over the holiday break, and you don't want that to happen in your #community. Let's stop the enrollment plunge before it happens. Lumina Foundation #retentionstrategies #retention #enrollmentmanagement #persistence #communitycolleges #studentlife #studentsuccess