EDITORIAL

Back to school time is such a fun time of year. College students bring a high level of excitement, energy, and enthusiasm with them when they arrive on campus. There is laughter, there is nervous energy, and big smiles are abundant. Being around all that energy and positivity is uplifting. The contagious atmosphere sets the standard for an exciting year to come.

I recently had the privilege of helping students on housing move-in day. When the students and their families walk into the foyer of Vickie and Jerry Durant Hall for the first time, there is a lot of shock and awe at the splendor of the place. You can frequently witness eyes wide open and mouths agape. It is not uncommon to hear parents say, “This place looks like a luxury resort.” The beautiful residence hall was filled the day it opened and now has over 100 students on a waiting list for a room.

It is also refreshing to see students buzzing around campus. You can hear groups of girls sharing laughter, while groups of boys carry themselves with youthful confidence. And of course, there are plenty of glances back and forth between the two groups. Some students walk individually at a brisk pace and are obviously on a mission. Still others saunter slowly around without ever taking their eyes off their phones.

The first day of class creates an electrified atmosphere. Thousands of students are moving in every direction. By now, some have already made new friends, boyfriends, or girlfriends. Faculty and staff are also incredibly active as they rush to fulfill their respective responsibilities. The administrators are concerned about issues such as whether enough food has been prepared for lunch in the cafeteria, whether there will be sufficient parking and seating, and whether the technology infrastructure can support the increased bandwidth demands.  Every first day of class is a little different, but they are always exciting.

At the heart of all of these things is teaching and learning. Blues legend B.B. King stated, “The beautiful thing about learning is that no one can take it away from you.” The faculty of Weatherford College are experts at helping students learn. They challenge students’ minds and stretch the way they think.

Weatherford College has been changing lives for over 156 years. I count it a great privilege to be a small part of such a dedicated team. More students are being provided with employable job skills than ever before. Our thriving business community has a seemingly insatiable appetite for these skilled workers. With such a strong labor demand and a record number of new college students, it is certainly time to head back to school.