The semester ended this week (at least the teaching part), and it has been quite the academic year. This time of year is always refreshing, as it is a reminder to celebrate one’s achievements, culminating in commencement. I was reminded again how incredible my students are and have been: they nominated me for the Advisor of the Year award. I won it in 2019, and I was honored to receive it again this year.

“The Advisor of the Year Award is presented to the faculty or staff member who has served as an official advisor to a registered college student organization and has gone above-and-beyond their duties to ensure the organization’s success. The successful candidate will have contributed significant time, energy, and resources. This recipient should actively mentor the students within the organization, and be someone to whom the students look for support and direction. Through their work with the organization, this nominee should cultivate the leadership of the members.”

To hear my name called in 2019 and then again this year at the awards ceremony inspired joy, relief, and love within me. My students and community see me. My work is for them, so for them to receive it is truly a gift. Whether it’s a text, an email, an IG message, running into them around campus, seeing them in class, having coffee or lunch with them, and all the in between, the relationships I have built with my students and mentees is what grounds me.

My mentee motto is a call back to one of my favorite Jay-Z quotes: “Hov did that, so hopefully you won’t have to go through that.” Dr. J. did to that, so hopefully you won’t have to, but even if you do, I still got your back.