The Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

With apologies to  Edward Pola and George Wyle and to Andy Williams, Christmas is not the most wonderful time of the year - now is, at least it is here at the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). It is convocation time at NSCC - as a pan-provincial community college with 13 campuses across Nova Scotia, from Yarmouth to Sydney, we have 17 convocation ceremonies over the next two weeks. A total of 4719 graduates will cross the stage at their campus ceremonies to receive their diplomas or certificates from our president.

As a dean of the College, I have the honour and great pleasure of attending the convocation ceremonies. As an educator, parent, employer, legislator, friend, or acquaintance, if you have ever doubted the transformational power of education, run, don't walk to the convocation ceremony nearest you - you will see happy, joyful graduates, families, friends and communities, but more importantly you will see confident, assured adults ready to take on the World in their chosen professions, to be successes, to have changed their lives and the lives of their families and communities.

As an educator, if you have ever doubted that what you do matters, all it takes is one little girl's voice echoing across the stage "Way to go Daddy" as her father accepts his credential - that is why we do what we do! It really is the most wonderful time of the year...