Our granddaughters Bryony and Raegen are starting kindergarten this year. This is such a big day for a five-year-old! Raegen has already started – and as you can see, she is “over the moon” about her first day of school. This excitement is probably reflective of her Mom’s love for education, as she was an elementary school teacher and has nurtured Raegen’s love for learning since she was a baby. The love of knowledge is an amazing gift.As we all navigate the stages of our education, we anticipate a certain point in time when we finish school and immerse ourselves in our careers. Now, after almost 35 years in the hospitality industry, I realize that I have never stopped learning. This industry and all professions are constantly evolving and changing. The only way to keep pace – and hopefully to help define the standards - is to remain a student. We are fortunate there are so many opportunities for extended learning in the hospitality industry. Certainly, professional memberships like MPI, SITE, PCMA, FICP and others come to mind with highly regarded education as a primary resource of the membership. Two of my favorite resources – the DMC Network and ADME – are uniquely focused on the DMC industry and our particular needs. Carefully developed certifications are encouraged to recognize professionals with extensive knowledge in their professions.
I am lucky in that I really do love to learn. I take art workshops, mosaic classes, flower design, writing, management and leadership classes and any other courses that interest me and enrich my creative and professional talent. Years ago, I made a commitment to earn my CMP and DMCP and have now re-certified to maintain my credentials. I wish I could find time to really study computers – I am frustrated by my limited knowledge within such limitless opportunity. I’d just like to be able to use the majority of the features on my Treo.
My advice and encouragement is to forever remain a student. Study things you love; read books about things you like; learn about things you don’t know much about and always keep your mind and heart open to new experiences. Terry and I have been blessed to travel all over the world – and as you will see by this photo
of Maasai children in Kenya – their classroom was the shade of an acacia tree, their teacher was an elder and their possibilities were without limit. I wish Raegen and Bryony could have been with us – imagine children born to such different lives sharing their excitement for learning. That is a lesson in itself!
