Issue link: http://ncumarketing.uberflip.com/i/1205139
7 • Grow a thicker skin – I still get a pang of anxiety when that Grade Appeal form comes around. Mostly it is simply a request for extra time. I try to remind myself that if their reason for it does perhaps include some criticism against me, to not take it personally but remember that this student is invested in this work, therefore emotions may, or may not, filter into the reasons. If I can and should do something better, then that is on me to improve. Take the lesson. • Be warm, but be direct – I consider myself to be warm and friendly and I still have to remind myself constantly to be that to students. While pointing out corrections and giving advice, also say what they did well. However, it is also critical to be direct and honest with students. Being too kind or nurturing, and not getting a point across, does not serve the student well. • Reach out more – I had some personal challenges and tragedies occur this year and I probably should have reached out for help way earlier than I eventually did. The help is there, make use of it. That is on a personal level. And for students, this may mean working with their advisors to encourage them, to help figure out what additional help they should get, and so forth. I have one student that needs some basic writing assistance and her advisor was instrumental in getting an understanding of the students' challenges and helping me to better help her. • Research more, write more – Perhaps even publish more? I realize again and again how quickly any field evolves, and if I tell my students to look for recent sources of evidence, I should also stay current in new research and trends in the field. And it is not just keeping up to date with new research, it's about keeping my own research skills sharp. It is easy to get caught in the very real pressures of course deadlines or committee demands, and yet the research was always an exciting part for me. Being able to find the puzzle pieces that fit is a skill you learn as you conduct research and complete a degree. I challenged myself to submit a proposal to 2020 annual SIOP conference, which, coincidentally, I just heard was not accepted (thank goodness for New Year's resolution #1) but I had fun researching and writing that proposal, and now have a new arsenal of evidence to share with students. So there we go. Hopefully I will have a higher success rate with the above mentioned resolutions than I have had with any resolutions that involve attending a gym. May 2020 be an amazing year for everyone.