Purple is associated with power, wealth, and prestige, but also with wisdom and imagination. The color gold is associated with wealth and prosperity.
I transferred to Trinity College where I completed my undergraduate degree. I had the distinction of graduating in the 100th year. This year is Trinity Washington University’s 125th birthday. The “official” date of the founding of Trinity was on August 20, 1897. Our Founders, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, insisted that women in 1897 had as much right to a great college education as men in that day. Trinity College was Chartered by an Act of Congress by the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, because at that time Washington, D.C. was run by Congress. Washington, D.C. did not have its own government; it did not have its own agencies and services, so establishing a new organization required an Act of Congress. Trinity was the first Catholic college for women founded specifically as a college.
Trinity is home – I LOVE that place! I am so excited to be entering my 8th year as an adjunct professor at my alma mater.
Although I love teaching at Trinity, every year I say it is going to be my last year. Why? Because it’s far from my home and I always had a full-time job and a business at the same time. Initially, I didn’t teach in the spring semester because my workload always increased during the spring. In 2020 I decided to accept two classes because I had left my full-time job. The break from the end of the fall semester to the beginning of the spring semester was not long enough for me to rejuvenate. I give my students my all during the fall semester and then I need a release. I admire full-time and adjunct professors who teach all year long but that’s not what I’m called to do.
My truth is that by March or April I really miss my students. I start saying things like “I can’t wait to discuss that with my class” or “my students and I would have a good discussion about this”. I want to pose certain questions to them. I start sending myself emails with things to include in my syllabus and classroom presentations. I really miss them, and I can’t wait to get to meet them. I genuinely love them. Yes, I love and miss the students that I’ve never even met.
People say I light up when I talk about my students – past, present, and future. It’s a labor of love. And do you know what? I don’t ever want to do work that doesn’t bring my heart joy.
You also deserve to do work that fills your heart, mind, and wallet! Career fulfillment is our goal!
Nicki Sanders, MSW, ushers high-performing women of color in mid-level social work and human services leadership through promotion to senior leadership. As Founder and CEO of Nicki Sanders Leadership Consulting, her mission is simple – to eliminate toxic workplaces by developing skilled, empathetic, and goal-oriented leaders who have the vision, support, and resources to create a culture where business prospers, and employees thrive individually and collectively. Nicki has an extensive background in nonprofit management leading high-functioning, multi-disciplinary teams. She is an accomplished professor, coach, trainer, and group facilitator who has combined her gift for authentic relationships, Master of Social Work degree, and over 20 years of diverse work experience to create a life and career aligned with her values and purpose. Nicki is a lover of cupcakes, travel, and 80’s hip hop and R&B music.
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