Kind words from students about their experience in my class at Rutgers, that helps students “Find and Evolve their Purpose”. What struck me the most when I read through and pulled some of these words out, is that they were mostly unprompted. These were shared in the context of journals and email conversations which makes them all the more powerful.
“I’d just like to say how much my mind is put more and more at ease after every class. Every single person you’ve had speak to us has failed in some kind of way, yet is now living their own version of success. I used to have such a linear perspective on success and was paralyzed by the fear of failure. I did everything perfectly, took no risks. I was so upset with my current career path because it didn’t feel like me, it didn’t excite me, and that made it so difficult to go to work every day. I truly mean this, hearing all these speakers has given me the courage to at least open up my mind to taking risks and I am now teaching myself skills to hopefully break into another career field that I really want. I’ve redefined what success looks like for me because I’ve realized that success doesn’t have to look the same for everyone. I have no idea where I am going to end up career-wise, but for the first time in my life that doesn’t horrify me; all I’m doing now is trying my best, truly listening to myself and my desires, and going with the flow.”
“As I have mentioned before this is my last semester at Rutgers and I couldn’t have asked for a better ending. I really enjoyed getting to hear people’s stories and experiences because they were filled with mistakes, bumps and challenges. Hearing this made me feel more comfortable in understanding that I don’t always need to be perfect or write my story like everyone else’s. Being so close to entering the real-world it brought me a sense of comfort to know that regardless of what the journey looks like I have the power to conquer my battles and reach success. Even though I was quiet, I really did love every second of your class and the vulnerability you allowed us to see.”
“I just wanted to thank you for this class, I could honestly say that this course was a part of this awakening of my purpose, you have been such a great professor and person to hear from, and I can not thank you enough. You have been one of the most transparent and kind professors I have had, and you honestly would answer the question you always ask. “what teacher did you resonate the most with.” I strive to be the type of person that you are that can build those relationships you share with all the people you talked about and had come into the class. This class, even if it was in my last semester in college, was a strong foundation for the rest of my life. I hope you all the best in the future, and I just want you to know that your class did transform me in the way you intended.
Who knows, maybe one day, I can share my story in your class :)”
I wanted to thank you for the invaluable assistance you provided to me and the rest of the class and for your constructive feedback on my final project. Your guidance and support inside and outside of class were pivotal in my academic success and overall emotional viewpoint on life. I also admire your dedication to creating a safe and collaborative learning environment through guest speakers and different individual experiences.
Thank you for being a prominent mentor for our class and investing in our growth and success. I found your class particularly beneficial, and it genuinely assisted in developing my emotional outlook and intelligence. I wish you continued success in your future endeavors.
The biggest takeaway I learned from this class is that I found my purpose and purpose driving career. From the weaknesses I listed in my journal, I found out that I need to give it a try and step out of my comfort zone. So, during the time I took this class, I applied to twenty medical assistant jobs and shared my strengths, values, and goals during the interviews and finally got selected by a few jobs. The class strengthens my purpose of pursuing a career in healthcare, just like how I wanted to serve the underserved population and promote health for everyone when I was a kid.
Thank you for your encouragement, unending support, and guidance throughout this semester. You gave us a uniquely grounding opportunity to know ourselves better and to speak with amazing people. You yourself are amazing and I hope you keep teaching this class and pursuing your purpose. I’ll miss going to your classes in the morning and hope that we cross paths again one day!
I also wanted to say thank you again for teaching this class, as it’s truly impacted me; especially as I’ve entered a brand new chapter of my life. Post-grad life has definitely been daunting some days, but I always think back to your class, center myself, and use my footholds to propel myself forward! Your class and lessons have genuinely set me up with tools to succeed in everyday life, and more importantly during new chapters of life. So, thank you again for proposing this idea as a class and teaching it, because your lessons have impacted me more than you know!
Firstly, I’d like to express my gratitude for the class you taught last semester. It was one of the best classes I had at Rutgers, I learned more about myself and how to deal with stress. It was a transformative experience for me, and I genuinely appreciate the effort and passion you put into teaching.