I believe that cultivating a culture of care in any educational setting makes all the difference.

In my freshman year of college, I experienced the impact of an instructor who cared enough to gently challenge me. I was enrolled in a French Literature course, and while I completed every assignment and studied diligently, I was a quiet introvert who rarely, if ever, participated in class. In language classes, participation is essential and was a big part of my grade. Rather than let my grade keep slipping, the instructor pulled me aside one day and after listening to me, he challenged me to participate just one time per class, something short and simple. I did it! A few days later, he praised me and challenged me to participate two times, and so on. By the end of the semester, I was fully participating in class, my French improved, and my confidence grew immensely. This instructor cared about me, my growth and development, and ultimately my success.

Years later, as a new instructor myself, I had an occasion to show that same level of care. I was teaching an ESL class to a group of international students who had come to study abroad at community college in the United States. One particular student who was doing well in the class and seemed engaged suddenly stopped attending. I reached out by email a few times and got no response. After a few days, I called her on the phone and left a message letting her know that I missed seeing her in class and hoped that she was okay. I added that I’d be happy to meet with her, figure out what she had missed and help her to get caught up. The next day, she came to my office before class, and she explained that she had been incredibly homesick and depressed and had been thinking about returning home to her native country before the end of the semester. She then shared that my phone call made her realize that someone cared about her here in America too and that with support, she could do this! She ended up completing the ESL program and continued on earning both her Associate’s degree and Bachelor’s degree before returning home.

Showing kindness, compassion, consideration and care is such a simple idea, yet so very powerful and transformational! I demonstrate that I care when I communicate intentionally and listen actively and when I react with empathy and understanding. When I am flexible, remove potential barriers, and provide a range of learning activities and assessments for students, I show that I care. Incorporating diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging into course design, the class environment, student services, and our college spaces also fosters this culture of care. I believe one caring person can make a difference!