Administrator advises reaching out, helping others

By Khanh Nguyen/reporter

To give oneself power is to love what that person chooses to be first and foremost, the SE continuing education vice president told SE students Sept. 19.

Dr. Carrie Tunson, an admitted “seasoned woman,” shared her experience and mantra for success having been an educational leader for more than 39 years with “nothing but love and passion” for her career.

“Expect greatness out of life,” she said. “Expect failure, and you will be a failure.” 

Tunson asked her audience for three positive qualities about themselves.

“I’m persistent,” one student said.

Persistence is never taking no for an answer, Tunson said.

“If someone told you, ‘You will never amount to anything,’ think of what this student has said,” she said.

Another student said, “I respect the rights of others.”

Respect is a universal concept of treating others the way one wants to be treated, which can be difficult in practice, Tunson said.

“Everyone needs someone else to open doors for them in life,” she said.

Opening doors stems from this idea of respect, Tunson said.

The last of three qualities the audience submitted was “optimism,” which blended with Tunson’s recommendation for avoiding negative people with negative outlooks in one’s circle.

That is especially important when choosing a significant other as it is a decision that begins life and future generations, Tunson said.

When a person is drowning, the instinct will be to outstretch a hand and reach out to anyone, disregarding the skin color, gender, religious beliefs, background and so forth, to accept help.

Tunson said the drowning analogy is the meaning of life. But it all starts with love and respect for oneself so a person can accept it from others and live prosperously.

She said these considerations will help everybody find success and reminded the students to reach back and help someone else when they do.

SE student Melanie Ramos said she left “fully inspired” despite initially attending for the “extra-credit carrot” her psychology class offered.

“I needed that for myself, too,” she said.

English major Jessica Lam said the workshop provided a personal benefit.

“As cheesy as it sounds, that was kind of therapeutic,” she said.