Being a GCC Ambassador

It’s pretty cool when you are recognized off-campus as a GCC employee, especially when you aren’t wearing your Gaucho Gear. We go through the internal process of:

  1. Why is that person staring at me?
  2. Do I know this person? Should I know this person?

Then they say, “You were my _____ teacher at GCC!” and then I think:

  1. Wait, what am I wearing right now, do I look presentable?
  2. How did they do in the class?
  3. How nice that they remembered me and their experience at GCC!

So then I get over my fears of being caught at the grocery store in sweats, with no make-up, and actually settle in to learn about where  they are in life and what they are doing currently.

This is the most rewarding part.

As much as it’s healthy to carve out a piece of your life just for you, when you live, breathe and believe in higher education, it is hard to separate that part of your life. Whether we know it or not, we are all ambassadors for GCC. I had this conversation about seven years ago with Rick Watts (you might know him) as we felt so strongly about the honor and privilege of representing GCC when outside of work hours.   Jim Reed and I frequently celebrate these occurrences, as this is a huge source of pride for Jim (I know, really!).  I love to work with people who feel this is a career with benefits beyond pay and who understand the impact they can make – these are my fellow ambassadors!

 

3 thoughts on “Being a GCC Ambassador”

  1. I love how you capture that moment of “How do I know this person?” And then the honest reaction of “What am I wearing!” That captures my response when I have those moments of running into students, too.

     
  2. It never fails ! Why didn’t I think to clean up before I ran up to Trader Joe’s, Home Depot, Paradise Bakery, or Target? Because inevitably I run into a student; so I have to rationalize that it is good for them to see me as I am in my real life. I am pretty good at that = my students know I am a real person! HaHa!

     

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