serendipitous human connections
In the air…
I’m in the air again with another three hours to reflect on the past several days which I have chosen to label as ones of “serendipitous human connections.” I’ve been to conferences in the past. Often, they are back-to-back information-filled sessions that leave one excited, inspired yet tired, and usually a full email inbox to tackle upon returning to work. This conference was really no different in that respect, but it was unique with regard to the quality of connections that I made.
On Day 1, I overheard a conversation at a poster session between the presenter and an attendee (whom I’ll call Tracy) which lead me to approach Tracy afterward and admit that I had heard that she worked in the School of Education at their particular university and was interested in faculty development for online adjuncts. I told Tracy I was also interested in the subject and that I had just defended my dissertation on the topic of Student Interactions, Connectedness and Retention in an Online MBA Program: An Exploratory Study. We realized immediately that we had common interests and planned to meet for breakfast the following morning to learn more about each other. I don’t believe in coincidences, so I don’t think it was a coincidence that I was privy to Tracy’s conversation and was inspired to introduce myself to a complete stranger.
In the evening of Day 2, I was standing in line to purchase some water when someone (whom I’ll call Courtney) glanced at my lanyard and asked if I worked with anyone at VIMS. Of course, anyone who would ask that question knows that the Virginia Institute of Marine Science is part of William & Mary. We began to chat about William & Mary, the Wren Building (where I had just defended), and its gorgeous chapel. Almost immediately, I felt a connection to Courtney and knew that there was something that I needed to learn from the conversation.
“So, tell me your story,” Courtney said. We exchanged details of our meandering journeys through academia which had brought each of us as first-generation college graduates to where we are today: careers in higher education. For the second time in as many days, I felt comfortable being honest with a complete stranger about how I had decided to return for my bachelor’s degree later than most (in my 30’s), followed by my MBA and most recently, my PhD. I shared a particularly difficult personal struggle that I had experienced in my PhD program which left me wounded and questioning, “Why did this happen to me?” As a result, I became more determined. I worked hard. I persisted. I persevered. I shared with Courtney that I later realized that I needed to experience that struggle so that as an educator, I could better empathize with my future students who may also struggle. As I finished my story, culminating with my successful defense, Courtney listened intently, paused and then said confidently, “My students need to hear your story.” I knew in that moment that was the reason for our serendipitous human connection.
I write this story not only share with you but to also remind myself that knowledge nuggets can present themselves in the most unexpected ways and at the most unpredictable times. We simply need to be receptive to the opportunities as they arise. I gave Courtney permission to share my story. Why? Because we as humans are all connected, whether we are students in an online or face-to-face classroom, or just random people standing in line to purchase something. Recognizing that we each have nuggets to share that might positively impact another’s life is reason enough to be open to those moments of serendipitous human connection.