I believe in living life without regret.

With that belief in mind, I feel I would be remiss if I did not take this opportunity to encourage you to pursue and embrace different experiences. While it may be more comfortable to stick with the familiar, seeking out a broader perspective will not only improve the quality of your life, but greatly increase what you can give back to others.

With the global environment in which we now live, we can no longer afford to remain isolated. We owe it to the state to give Iowans not only the best trained teachers, administrators, counselors, and psychologists, but also the most capable community leaders and effective role models. This will not happen without expanding horizons, appreciating differences, and building relationships.

This wider experience can occur locally by helping immigrants in your community learn English or by tutoring a child with disabilities. Internationally, you might study abroad or collaborate with colleagues around the globe. Either way, you will find that you learn as much from others as they learn from you. These experiences will foster tolerance and narrow the boundaries between races, cultures, and classes.

So, leave your comfort zone and get involved. Keep an open mind. Gain an understanding of people with varying levels of abilities and circumstances. Learn about other cultures and ethnic groups. Exchange ideas. Be inspired. Inspire others. You will receive a breadth and depth of knowledge that will enrich your professional practice and change your life.

As Mark Twain said, “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.”

Sandra Bowman Damico
Dean