Adrien Cuellar-McGuire
At Brookhaven College, we are frequently reminded of the importance of professional development. Often when we consider doing something that will help us grow professionally, we can readily count the obstacles in the way of our getting there. When I was invited to present a paper at a Round Table at Oxford in August, that list of obstacles seemed a mile long with things related to work, family, money and, the big one, writing at the level I did in graduate school. (I re-read The Chicago Manual of Style while my children were taking swimming lessons.) Fortunately, I kept telling myself that this was an opportunity that I just could not pass up.
My experience at the Round Table was really incredible. To be involved in discussion with colleagues from around the world is a very rejuvenating experience, and to do that at a place like Oxford University was even more stimulating. Our topic was Human Migration: Borders and National Interests. I spoke about the immigration ordinances in Farmers Branch and how that reflects national attitudes and affects residents’ lives. Immigration from Latin America to the United States was a topic regularly covered in the papers, but we also related to other parallels around the world. Some of the professors taught in the various fields of the humanities while others were based in the social work departments of universities. A few of the participants were social workers either working for a state government or private agency. In total, there were 21 of us. For five days, we met regularly, listened to presentations and discussed them. Even as we toured the various colleges of Oxford and different areas of the city, we found ourselves drifting back to the topics we had covered earlier in our sessions.
I encourage you not to miss opportunities like this one. It’s true—where there is a will, there is a way. I came back revitalized, and that is a feeling that I needed. Not only did I have more ideas about what I would do as an instructor, department chair and club co-sponsor, I was better prepared to take on my part of being interim dean of BCSA/PE/Athletics/Nutrition. Make that time for yourself, you’re worth it!
