I want to celebrate. I want to celebrate curiosity because well… “why” not? I want to celebrate perspective because I can call it my own. I want to celebrate choice because the ability to accept the responsibility that comes with it is usually a challenge. I want to celebrate the nothings that turn into somethings because no thing is really a “nothing”. I want to celebrate education in all of its forms because ignorance is really quite a shame. I want to celebrate the moments that transform into teaching moments over time because they constantly guide me through my practice as a person and as a professional. I want to celebrate the people who create these teaching moments and remind me that we’re all lifelong learners. (Thanks Dean Diamond.) I want to celebrate difference because life would be boring if we were all the same.

Often times, it isn’t enough to silently recognize those people, those moments, those things that shape our present. I want to celebrate out loud. Won’t you?

Jessica Ha is a counselor and a freshman advisor at Florida Tech