Today I filled the candy jar in my office with Hi Chew candies (students love these) and KIND bars. I filled another basket with Emergen-C, water flavors, and scratch art for relaxation in the office. In the past, I’ve offered breakfast bars and bottled water—anything to let a student know they can come in, stay a while, chat, or even do their homework.
I’ve told you about my professor friend who invites every student who stops by her office to stay for a cup of tea. She insists the tea is a symbol. It says to a student, “I have lots of time for you. Enough time to boil water, steep a tea bag, and drink a cup with you.” I’ve also recently heard of a professor who invites students to a “walking office hours” where everyone takes a walk around campus and talks. The tea and the walk both symbolize a sort of slow time.
This is the first year of my life when I won’t provide the Warm Welcome and After School Snack Platter for my daughters since both are off to college, but I can extend the philosophy of the Warm Welcome to work relationships, to Ashley, and to the neighbors. I want to present a disposition and environment that says, “Come on it! Stay awhile!”