Alpha Sigma Lambda Brings Honor and
Joy to Penland
Alpha
Sigma Lambda has been a part of my life since 1983. Shortly after
I entered the field of continuing education at the University of
Evansville my dean and our ASL national councilor, Roger Sublett,
asked me to help him coordinate ASL activities. When I began working
with adult students I was immediately impressed by them. They were
hard working, intelligent, dedicated students who were accomplishing
what seemed like the impossible. They had stories of obstacles and
hardships which ended in triumph. Most incredibly, however, instead
of being impressed by their own accomplishments the students I worked
with were humble, constantly expressing their gratitude for their
educational programs, for their professors, for the staff, and for
the institution which made it possible for them to achieve their
lifelong dream of earning a college degree.
It
has been a joy to be involved with Alpha Sigma Lambda on my home
campus and at the national level. ASL is one small way that adult
educators can publicly recognize the most outstanding of the adult
students on our campuses. Each year I have the privilege of going
through the important ceremonies that are rites of passage for adult
students: I greet the new adult students at the University of Evansville,
I induct honor students into Alpha Sigma Lambda, and I present diplomas
to our adult student graduates. 
These
public events remind me of hundreds of less momentous encounters
– discussions about how being in school has changed a student’s
self-concept, about how it has improved a student’s ability
to relate to other people, about how it has changed an entire world
view. I think of the statements I have heard from the students -
things like “Next to the birth of my child earning this degree
is the most important thing I’ve done in my life,” or
“I came to school so I could earn more money, but now I don’t
care if I never make another dime. The degree has changed ME, and
I wouldn’t take anything for that!” When I participate
in Alpha Sigma Lambda initiations I feel grateful for the opportunity
to be a part of these remarkable students’ individual stories
of triumph. I feel a special connection to them and to all learners
who know the joy of learning and the satisfaction of achieving a
goal of immense proportions, both in terms of value and effort.
I have learned much from the adult students I have been privileged to know. I have learned that people can push themselves beyond what they believed to be their limits, when they are truly committed to a goal. I have learned that delaying college is no indication of lack of ability or interest or enthusiasm. I have learned that adult students’ learning enjoyment transcends temporary hardships such as lack of sleep and high stress. I have learned that the adult students we serve throughout the many Alpha Sigma Lambda chapters across the country are incredible human beings. To share a part of their lives, through Alpha Sigma Lambda, has been both an honor and a joy!