Building Blocks - Vol. 1, No. 5
Shapeless in the hands of fate…
Prof. Fred Lewis Pattee penned these words in the third verse of the Alma Mater.
When we stood at childhood's gate,
Shapeless in the hands of fate,
Thou didst mold us, dear old State…
Often we sing songs, and we don’t stop and think about the lyrics. This song supposedly represents the ideals of the University. I have for many years sung these words without thinking deeper about its meaning. Now that I have paused to think, I am not sure these words are appropriate. What do you think?
I have challenged the students in freshmen seminars to rewrite this verse and sing it loudly next time they have a chance. I am challenging all AE students to do the same. (For the full text, see http://www.psu.edu/ur/about/almamater.html)
The questions are:
- Are we shapeless in the hands of fate?
- Does dear old State mold students? Or, do students take the initiative to take advantage of what is available at the University?
Steven Covey in his book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People points out that regardless of the circumstances, we can make a difference in the outcome of our life. Where we one ends up is the cumulative effects of a series of small decisions. One must take responsibility for his/her choices and choose wisely, even with small decisions. Certainly the University and the environment at large expose the students to many ideas. Whether these concepts are internalized and influences the student’s behavior is a matter of personal choice. By planning, we can direct the outcome. “No one plans to fail, many fail to plan.”
During the semester break, when you have a moment, ponder these thoughts and may be write your own alma mater verse and write a few resolutions (goals). Regardless if you are a freshman or a graduating student, this is a good time to reflect and plot the course for the next year and beyond.
Some basic points of goal setting:
- Be specific.
- Goals should be measurable.
- Goals should be set with a deadline.
- Goals should be realistic.
- Get started right away.
- Keep track and review progress. Keep a journal.
The work sheet is provided as a tool for journaling purposes:
| Roles | Goals | Action Items | Status |