End of Semester Message
Fall classes are ending and you will soon be in the midst of exams. It is at the end of each term and in the midst of completing projects and reviewing notes and readings for exams that students are finally able to pull together the many threads of their coursework to begin to see the whole of what they have learned over the course of the semester – the connections between theory and practice, the different perspectives gained into a particular problem or issue, a sense of deep understanding and expanding knowledge. These days can be both exhausting and exhilarating.The combination of papers, final projects, and exams also often combine with the rush of the holidays to make this time of year quite stressful for all of us throughout NYU and the Steinhardt community. Steinhardt’s Office of Student Affairs supports our students in their academic studies and provides counseling services to assist students with personal issues as well. Please feel free to call the Student Affairs Office at 212-998-5025 for an appointment or just stop by the 2nd floor of Pless Hall at 82 Washington Square East for a friendly chat. All are welcome.
I would also like to take a few moments to reflect upon the mission of NYU Steinhardt and the opportunity we all have to carry through the spirit of the holidays in our work, our research, and our interactions with each other and the communities to which we belong.
Steinhardt’s mission statement says “the School’s faculty and students evaluate and redefine processes, practices, and policies in their respective fields and, from a global as well as community perspective, lead in an ever-changing world.” I encourage you to take a few minutes this holiday season to reflect upon the spirit of the holidays that includes such ideals as faith, generosity, unity, creativity, and hope, and how these ideals are reflected back to you in your education here at Steinhardt.
All of us at NYU Steinhardt have the opportunity to play an indispensable role in transforming families, schools, neighborhoods, and communities throughout our global society by applying what we learn. Take a moment this season to think about how you got to this point in your life and career and how you can move forward in the New Year, and what changes you can make in your own life and how you can make a difference in the lives of others around you. These challenges to ourselves – to reflect on our lives and to think ahead to the future -- encompass both the joy and the hope of the season.
I wish you, your family and friends, the most joyous of holiday seasons.
Dean Mary Brabeck