Patience is a Virtue

Feel like you did a lot of waiting today?

Students wait in line for some tasty Chick-fil-A sandwiches and waffle fries.

A moment of philosophy if you will.

Having been on campus in Denton all summer, I somehow forgot how full the campus usually is! Today at the library I had to actually search for a computer to use. Then I waited behind a girl who was printing out one of those long power points that accompany a lecture, and of course I only had to print out 2 pages. I started to sense my own frustration growing, but realized that this was nothing new at all. In college we learn to wait like we've never waited before.

Students wait in line to print out documents for classes in the Blagg-Huey Library.

I've always felt like my college experience was about waiting. I started out waiting to even go. My first semester out of high school, I worked as a demo-lady at Sam's Club instead of going to school. I waited, worked hard and saved my money. I thought my intense waiting would be done once I got to college--wrong. You wait for everything in college. Sometimes it's your fault, other times it's just standard procedure. I waited until I was nearly a junior to decide on a major. I waited till the last minute many times to complete assignments or readings. I wait in the MCL parking lot for people to walk out to their cars so that I can get good parking spot. We all wait for our paper work to be processed for financial aid, for acceptance into campus groups, for classes to start and end. I, along with many other hopeful students am waiting till November to find out if I am accepted into TWU's College of Nursing.

Students wait in the TWU book store to check out their books for Fall 2008 classes.

It occurred to me today that college truly is a time to wait. A time where we finalize what we are going to do in the world, and who we become as people. We wait it out for 4 years or more until that fine day where we walk that stage and receive that long-awaited diploma in our hands.

But I feel that I might have missed the bigger picture on this, because waiting implies that nothing substantial is happening to us in the meantime. As a transfer and commuter student I felt I was waiting enough already in traffic to come to school, so why get involved on campus more than coming to class and going home? It's simple: We all have passions, values, and talents now--why are we waiting until graduation to use them? I chose to get involved on campus, to join a health education group and start Face AIDS.

What happens with how you spend your time now, will affect who you become once you get your diploma. Please don't wait to get involved during your stay here at TWU. If anything, college is a lesson in patience. Yes, the best is yet to come once we graduate and begin our careers. But for now, while we wait patiently, we can still be active in our passions.

Face AIDS members (L to R) Jasmin Bustamante sells a Face AIDS awareness pin. She is a busy student who founded Running Inc. on campus and also a nursing major. Tracy Wood Knabe, also a nursing major, is a mother and commuter student that chooses to be involved. Sarah Royer is also a busy nursing student that helps as she can with Face AIDS. There are over 150 campus organizations at TWU for you to get involved in.



In the end, we all will get to throw our hat in the air and say we did it. But those that were involved on campus will have been saying that all along. Life never waits, after all. And even though John Mayer may be waiting on the world to change, I know I certainly can't. We are simply too capable as students not to change things now. So the next time you are waiting in line, remember to admire patience in the person who is in front you and not just the person behind of you. We've all been there. In cases like that, waiting is necessary.

Also remember, that it's never too late to get involved on campus and share your passions with others. You might have to wait to graduate, but you don't have to wait to participate! That's right, no waiting.



Yours truly,

Scarlett Pope
Student Regent
Texas Woman's University



P.S. If you see me on campus, please don't be afraid to come up and say Hi! I don't mind it at all!

Article in Dallas Morning News+Student Feedback

The Dallas Morning News did a profile story on me, please read it for some background knowledge on yours truly!

Also,

I have spoken to a lot of students today, new and returning about issues they wish to address to the board of regents. I have a whole page of notes, and it looks like I'm going to have a lot to say in our second board meeting.

Please feel free to comment here or email me at spope@twu.edu with your concerns or anything you'd like the board of regents to know.

I am very humbled to be serving you all and I hope to encounter the same enthusiastic communication I have experienced lately. Please continue the trend, as student feedback is necessary for me to fulfill my role!

Yours,

Scarlett Pope
TWU Student Regent

Board of Regents Meeting August 22, 2008

Some Important topics of discussion for this Friday's meeting:

-Approving a request to be sent to the Texas Higher Education Coordinating Board for construction of the new campus building at the Dallas Parkland Institute of Health Sciences ($55,500,000)

-Approving a cooperative Ph.D. in Nursing Science between TWU and Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi

-Approving of the Tuberculosis Screening Policy (last approved 1997)

So, last Friday I attended the finance and audits committee meeting in Dallas to listen and discuss the proposals for the upcoming budget. Wow, was that a learning experience. Not only did I slowly become desensitized to the word "million", but I learned so much about how the university's budget works. It seems that it all comes back to enrollment. When enrollment increases, the budget increases, salaries increase, and so forth.

During the faculty development day this past Monday I helped hand out flyers and had the pleasure to hear our Chancellor and President, Dr. Ann Stuart, address the faculty about the enrollment numbers so far.

Enrollment to date is in positive numbers, but is reaching short of the projected goal. With enrollment not on levels hoped for, faculty salaries have become "softened." Each professor received a 2% increase in pay in the new budget, while those receiving tenure received even more. Dr. Stuart expressed that faculty raises will be adjusted mid-year at November's meeting by directing all money brought in by the total increases in enrollment (which are now estimated at 2-3% enrollment growth) towards faculty paychecks. Better faculty pay is great for professors, but what does this mean to students? You tell me. In my opinion, the better our professors are paid the better education I recieve. It's like paying more for an organic apple--better quality comes at a higher price.

I wonder if this raise in pay to our professors will pay back in making sure that the students stay and graduate. Step 1 is enrolling, step 2 staying, step3 graduating. I think this is a positive announcement, but please let me know what effect you think this will bring.

I have been very busy, to elaborate my exhaustion--I just fell asleep sitting up in a chair 5 minutes ago.

More later, I promise!

Scarlett Pope
Student Regent
Texas Woman's University
scarlettpope@hotmail.com