Impact
def. “The force of impression of one thing on another.” (Merriam-Webster)
“I wouldn’t be the person I am without you.”
“You had such an impact on my life.”
“I wanna tell you that are amazing and that your value and impact in this world as well as in the lives of many has been and continues to be immeasurable - continue to flame your fire and passion for life and for others.”
As an educator, I commit to mentoring, guiding, advising, counseling, coaching, encouraging, developing, and motivating young people. My greatest reward is in the growth and development of our students, both tangible and intangible. I don’t often know what the impact of my work is in the moment, but statements like those above remind us that the work educators do matters. For me, I simply focus on being myself, being generous with my time and attention, making important connections, being insightful and most of all, bringing genuine enthusiasm in how I engage with each student.
I believe it is this contagious enthusiasm that captures the hearts of students I work with. My son recently overheard a meeting I was having with a student on a Zoom call. When I finished the meeting, he said, '“You are so good at what you do, Mom.” I responded, “Oh really, what do you mean?” “You’re just so invested in them,” he said.
Isn’t that what we all want…for someone to be really interested in us? For someone to really listen to us; to lean in to our experience? Even if it’s just for a one hour appointment? We want to be heard, to be asked thoughtful questions. to connect, to laugh, to share experiences, to be vulnerable. It is in this space that the lasting effect of impact is created; impact that transforms hearts and minds to their fullest potential.
“Stacy is sassy, warm, vibrant, loving, funny and REAL! She is such a patient listener and she makes you feel like the most important person in the world.” T. Mobley
“Stacy has touched my heart.” A. Sutherland
“Ms. Stacy…helped me be more accepting of myself and my skin color. I basically learned to love myself.’ B. Hawkins.
I firmly believe that there is a spiritual component to impact as well. I know that God has blessed me with the gifts to connect with students and I comfortably share His presence and influence in our lives where appropriate. Most often this deepens the connection between me and the student and manifests in the students’ greater understanding of self, navigating whatever challenge they are facing, and confidence in their own agency.
My impact on the lives of students in my 30 plus year career in student affairs has been on of the greatest rewards in doing this work. “I couldn’t have done this without you” is the most frequent refrain I hear from students. Sharing their lives with me is a privilege that I don’t take for granted. Being a part of a student’s journey to becoming their best selves is an honor. Their success is its own reward for me.
But this impact goes both ways. Students have an impact on me as well. They teach me so much about what they are learning, they help me to be a better educator, coach and mentor and they grow into adults with their own families who motivate and challenge me to be my best self, to go after my dreams, etc. Sometimes it feels as if the roles are reversed and they are “schooling” me on this thing called life. The shared laughter and stories of success, and failure, seal the connection that may have been made as long as 15 years ago.
Impact. You don’t design it, determine or dictate how it materializes. It is organic; it just happens. Long lasting, far reaching or short-lived and direct. Transforming lives. Developing young people. Touching hearts and minds.
My life and career are more full because of the impact I have had on others…and they have had on me.