Saturday will signal the end of a four year journey for a number of my students, as they graduate from college and move into the next phase of their lives. Reality is right around the corner, whether they are prepared for it or not.
I marvel at the metamorphosis of these young minds, as they transition from carefree kids to focused young adults that are poised, articulate and compassionate. It does not happen overnight, and I am probably harder on them than most.
It takes tough love to push them to their intellectual limits and to build emotional intelligence. I always tell them that I want a perpetual perch on their shoulders so that I can occasionally whisper into their ears, and smack them upside the head when they do the wrong thing!
My responsibilities to these young men and women, to their families, and to the organizations that hire them, is no laughing matter. My ultimate reward is when a young person expresses their gratitude for making a difference in their lives. As they graduate, the safety net of the classroom quietly disappears. I know that they are prepared to succeed. They just need to trust their wings, fly the coop, and soar to the giddy heights of success.
About Hemant Rustogi