Dear Students,
A colleague of mine, an executive coach who works with C-suite leaders in Fortune 100 companies, told me a client had recently grabbed his hand at the end of their session and asked, “Am I enough? Tell me the truth. Am I good enough?” The client, a man in his forties, was experienced, exceedingly competent and highly qualified for his position. “I was shocked,” the coach told me. “It was surprising and also so poignant.”
A renowned family therapist asked me for a referral for one of his favorite clients who needed coaching to navigate a huge promotion at work. I commended the therapist for his effort to ensure his client got a good referral. “I’m relieved to hear you say that,” he said. “I was feeling guilty, like I wasn’t good enough to help him with this, but I think he needs specialty advice given what’s at stake.”
A mom friend told me she overheard our respective sons and their friends (all sophomores in high school) debating what was “enough” to get into college. Was a 3.0 GPA enough? High SAT scores? Student Council leader? Debate experience? Star Athlete? All five? They felt unsure. What if you had none of those?
A few years ago, I attended a series of classes called, “Yoga for Runners.” The class was offered at a deeply discounted price as part of a promotion for members (like me) of the New York Road Runners club. I confess I signed up for the class because it gave me access to a swanky Manhattan gym where I could help myself to expensive toiletries in the locker room. I didn’t have much experience with yoga, so I was expecting something more relaxing than challenging. I was wrong. (Yes, I worked very hard for unlimited access to Kiehl’s Amino Acid Volumizing Shampoo and Crème de Corps lotion.)
At the end of each class, we did spend a few minutes relaxing. The instructor had us lie down with our eyes closed and invited us to focus on our breath while she dimmed the studio lights. There were about 30 students in total, all strangers to each other and to her. We dutifully lay on our mats in the semi-darkness. In a soothing but assured voice she would then tell us,
“Remember – you are enough.
Whatever you did or didn’t do in our class today is enough.
Whatever you did or didn’t do in your life outside of class today… this week… this month… this year… – is enough.
You – just as you are right now – are enough.
Namaste.”
I wept every time. After that first class I’d arrive at the gym and tell myself, “You will not cry today; there’s no reason to! Of course, you are enough. There’s no need to cry.” Yet, when the lights dimmed and the instructor began her mantra, silent tears streamed down my cheeks.
That yoga teacher was right. We are enough. As is the coaching client and the family therapist and my son and his friends and as are you.
You are enough.
You are not behind (no matter where you are in your progress toward earning your MA), you are not late, you are not lacking, and you are not deficient. You are not missing out on an irrevocable life-changing opportunity by taking this class but not that one, by accepting this internship or job rather than searching for “the perfect one”, or by getting a B+ instead of an A+.
We are all still reeling, individually and collectively, to varying degrees, from all we have endured over the last two years. We are all still coping with continued uncertainty, challenge, and grief, including grief over spending a large chunk of the graduate school experience online. To all of you, those who are graduating and those who are continuing with us at TC, remember that you – just as you are now – are enough. We are so proud of you. We have loved being in this learning community with you over the past year. We are cheering you on to the finish line of this semester. And, we are here for you.
Don’t forget it.
Warmly,
Sarah J. Brazaitis, Ph.D.
MA Program Director
Current Student Profile
Kim Guest
Kimberly Guest is completing her degree in the Social-Organizational Psychology M.A. Program as a member of the Eisenhower Leadership Development Program (ELDP) at West Point. She is a Career US Air Force Officer and was selected to represent her service branch as part of an exchange program with the US Air Force Academy. Kim commissioned through the USAF Officer Training School in 2009 and earned her B.A. in English Literature from the University of Maryland, University College. She also earned a M.A. in Technical and Professional Communication from East Carolina University. Prior to her commissioning, Kim was an enlisted Aircraft Maintenance Technician, and deployed to Qatar in 2005 in support of Operation IRAQI FREEDOM.
Throughout her career, Kim has performed vast duties with Security Forces, including Squadron Commander, Executive Officer, Chief of Security Forces Officer Assignments, Operations Officer, the Officer-in-Charge of Logistics and Readiness, Section Commander, and Flight Commander. Maj Guest has deployed to Afghanistan and Kuwait in support of Operations ENDURING FREEDOM and INHERENT RESOLVE, once as the Anti-Terrorism Officer and another as Sector Commander.
Kim is most excited about getting back to developing others, through leading, teaming, and mentoring. Over the next two years, she will serve as a Tactical Officer, responsible for coaching and leading a cadet company at West Point. Following this assignment, she will return to the USAF to command a large squadron of approximately 450 Security Forces members. Kim is passionate about leadership and followership, and is eager to weave the frameworks she has learned from the classes, How Adults Learn, Fostering Transformative Learning, and Group and Organizational Dynamics, into how she leads and develops her cadets and airmen.
When Kim is not studying or working, she loves to run, cycle, and find new places to venture with friends in her travels. She is married to Anthony Guest, whom she met in 2004 when they were stationed together at RAF Lakenheath, England.
You can connect with Kim via email.
Alumni Profile
Glennys Huhn
Glennys Huhn is an executive coach and organizational development professional. Her expertise is grounded in over 15 years of experience working with leaders across multiple sectors ranging from the legal field, non-profit, finance, and education. She specializes in partnering with executives through challenging times to help them become more agile leaders.
The past two-years have brought consent change to the workplace and leadership. One fundamental she sees in design of the work environment of the future is being respectful to different types of employees who supported the business with both their flexibility and hard work. It is also important to be mindful that there will be experimentation in what the future of work looks like, and it won’t look the same for all companies.
Glennys earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from SUNY New Paltz. She completed her master’s degree in Organizational Psychology and executive coaching certification at Teachers College, Columbia University. Glennys led the Human Resources department at Pryor Cashman LLP for eight years and she currently serves as the Chief Human Resources Officer at American Friends of the Hebrew University (AFHU), where she has been for nine years. A mission driven organization that raises awareness about the Hebrew University, which is one of the world’s most distinguished institutions.
You can connect with Glennys on LinkedIn.
Recommended Readings
We're only a few weeks out from wrapping up a successful semester of in-person classes. And, we recently introduced being "Mask Mindful" on campus. As we continue to navigate the pandemic and our new hybrid world...we thought the following reads might intrigue you!
This report from Future Forum.captures employees' experiences of return-to-office globally and offers solutions based on the data to retain employees in this new state.
The book, Remote Work Revolution, by Dr. Tsedal Neeley. Dr. Neeley was recently featured at Wharton's Future of Work conference to discuss her research and book, which provides best practices for performing at the highest levels in organizations of virtual and global work.