Giving Thanks

During this season of Thanksgiving, the Access Center is thankful for the benefits of higher education. Specifically, we would like to reflect on students, faculty and staff, and community resources.

The students who come to the Access Center are often some of the most motivated students we have at NSCC.  To help students contribute the most they can to their college experience, we create opportunities through ADA accommodations. We have changed our name this semester from Student Disability Services to Access Center to reflect a positive, welcoming approach. We want to focus on solutions more than problems, and the NSCC community has embraced our change.

We are also thankful for our colleagues here at NSCC. It is a truly caring environment where we care about each other, not only professionally, but also personally. When we see e-mails about illnesses and deaths in the family, we appreciate how much the employees here care about each other and strive to provide emotional support during times of sorrow. We also share our joys with each other during weddings, births of children, graduations, and other happy occasions. When an employee feels that co-workers care, it certainly affects our interactions with students.  

The Access Center is fortunate to have so many wonderful community resources to which we can refer students. Nashville is a thriving, growing, cosmopolitan city with many opportunities. For example, United Way and Family/Children’s Service offer a crisis line at (615) 244-7444 for mental health emergencies.  United Way also offers free resources by just dialing 211 or entering www.211tn.org to reach the online data base for food pantries, clothing, shelter, and other basic needs.  Next semester, the Access Center will present a series with more details about community resources that create access.  

                We are approaching a hectic time of year with holidays and exams.  Hopefully we can all take a quiet moment to be thankful.  A sense of gratitude is beneficial as we reflect on the past, and greet the challenges of the new year.