The world around
us is a classroom
After May finals were painfully over, I had the
privilege to attend three graduation ceremonies
for dear friends and my precious son. They had
each remained focused and determined on their
goals in spite of the hindrances and stumbling
blocks that life had placed before them.
As I listened to their future plans, the Irish
poet, William Butler Yeats came to mind: “Education
is not the filling of a pail, but the lighting
of a fire.” Many of us think of taking our
requisite courses, moving on, and “getting
outta here;” that education only comes from
our professors, classrooms, over-priced textbooks
and is only necessary to obtain a career goal.
However, Webster‘s dictionary defines “education”
as: “the act or process of imparting or
acquiring general knowledge and of developing
the powers of reasoning and judgment.”
By limiting the definition of “education,”
we inadvertently place limitations and restraints
on ourselves. Life, itself, is our professor,
experience our teacher, and the world around us
our classroom. These graduates taught me that
education occurs all around us on a continual
and daily basis. By watching their individual
determinations and tenacity, I learned the values
and rewards of hard work and persistence. Through
those lessons, they developed and built upon solid
foundations that will continue with them for the
rest of their lives, whether in furthering their
formal education or entering the work force.
One spark of hope, one glimmer of self-enlightenment,
can light a fire within you. Education is the
accelerant necessary to have your fire blaze.
Explore your “classroom” and listen
to life’s teachings. Your fire will burn
brightly as a guiding light for others that come
after you.
North Lake College’s International Honor
Society chapter of Phi Theta Kappa, Alpha Zeta
Eta, has lit its own fire this academic year.
To start off the year, we will walk in the City
of Irving’s “Stars Across America”
Fourth of July parade. Members are currently building
a float with a replica of the Hollywood hillside
and the Chinese restaurant Sidewalk of the Stars.
We are working on it every evening at 5 p.m. in
room T-158, and you are more than welcome to participate
in this large endeavor. No talent required!
Phi Theta Kappa has recognized academic excellence
in the two-year college since 1918 and has become
the largest and most prestigious honor society
with approximately 1.3 members around the world.
The organization offers a wide range of opportunities
for exclusive scholarships to members, intellectual
enrichment, personal and leadership development.
North Lake’s Chapter, Alpha Zeta Eta, chartered
in April of 1980, has excelled to the status of
a Five-Star chapter over the years. We have received
numerous awards regionally and internationally
as well as achieving a current rank of fifth out
of 85 chapters in the Texas Region and in the
top 100 out of 1,284 chapters around the world.
Your membership is based primarily upon academic
achievement. To be eligible, you must have completed
12 credit hours course work at any DCCCD college,
be currently enrolled at North Lake with a minimum
of 3 college credit hours, have a GPA of 3.5,
and adhere to the school conduct code. (College
credit level GPA does not include developmental
classes.)
I welcome all of you in the student body to become
active with our chapter whether or not you choose
to become a member of Phi Theta Kappa. We encourage
everyone to participate in our activities on campus,
throughout the district, and the community. Our
activities offer you the opportunities to volunteer
your unique talents, to develop and utilize leadership
skills, to meet many diverse people, as well as
counting towards your campus and community volunteer
service hours.
For more information on Phi Theta Kappa and Alpha
Zeta Eta, you may go to our “unofficial”
Web site at http://www.alphazetaeta.com . You
are also welcome to join our weekly meetings held
every other Friday during the summer at 4:30 p.m.
in room A-206.
(Dawn Lassiter is the executive vice president/presidential
team of Alpha Zeta Eta, and North Lake College’s
2003 “Student Leader of the Year.”)
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