No Man is An Island

"No man is an island,

No man stands alone,

Each man’s joy is joy to me,

Each man’s grief is my own.

We need one another,

So I will defend,

Each man as my brother,

Each man as my friend…”

I was half-joking with my tax assistant one year about who has the more challenging job. The precision and detail of tax returns demands a certain intelligence. I told her I couldn't imagine anything worse. However, the tax assistant thought I had a bigger challenge working with people with mental health challenges!  Maybe the Lettermen were right when they sang "we need one another." 

There’s a classic book in psychology called I’m OK, You’re OK.  Some people may admire the talents and gifts of others and discount their own. ("I’m not OK, You’re OK.") It would be equally problematic to appreciate your own gifts, ignoring others’ strengths. ("I’m OK, You’re Not OK.") However, the truth is we've all succeeded and we've all struggled. It's just been in different areas and at different times. Maybe the title of the book is true--"I'm OK, You're OK." 

Here at Nashville State, we have an opportunity to work together as colleagues and each use our unique skills. As we all join together, our students are answering life-changing questions as well. Where do I excel? What is my goal? What is my next step? By setting an example of teamwork, we can teach our students that "no man is an island" as we appreciate diversity. 

Learned Helplessness

Learned Helplessness

Why do we sometimes refuse to change? Are we afraid to solve our problems? Do we fail to see a way out? A famous psychological experiment by Martin Seligman addressed these questions. In his experiment, he administered electrical shocks to dogs, and there was no way for the dogs to escape. Next, he administered the electrical shocks and removed the barrier. The dogs were free to escape the unpleasant shocks, but they chose not to escape. Psychologists call this “learned helplessness”---the idea that people remain in unpleasant, and sometimes unsafe circumstances because they believe there is no other option.

We can avoid learned helplessness by realizing our options, thinking creatively, and living courageously. Our students have taken proactive steps to enroll at NSCC.  Students come to us because they want to take constructive steps to learn as much as possible during their studies. Many of our students have overcome enormous obstacles to come to college. Thanks for all you do to help us remove the barriers, both real and imagined.