Greetings colleagues! How about that Super Bowl!? Go Saints! What a wonderful feeling that must be reverberating through New Orleans. After all the community has been through, they now have a reason to start the Mardi Gras a week early!

Here we are heading into week three of the Fall semester. Time sure does fly when we are busy having fun doing what we love-teaching! Speaking of teaching, one of the many highlights of the semester comes in getting to know the students in the first few weeks through introductions. Discovering where students are from, hearing their academic goals, and making personal connection between you and the student lays the foundation for the class to build on. When I discover students who serve in the military, I always thank them for their sacrifices and dedication to our country. If it were not for the freedoms we enjoy in this country, many of us would not be able to freely teach the subjects that we do.

We cannot forget the military family members and the sacrifices they make to support their military loved ones. Many of our students are military spouses separated from their service member loved one by war assignments or lenghtly training stints. Military families are often left behind without extended family nearby for support during trying times of long separation. Tending to family responsibilities, household duties, and the worries about the safety of those serving this country surely impact daily functions. We know that the military members do not join the service for the low pay they receive, but to serve our country with pride and purpose.

Many students who are connected to the military would benefit from encouragement throughout the semester to continue reaching for goals in higher academia. Not only does a college education help those in the military attain higher rank, college classes nurture discovery in a world broader than the military platform. Education helps service members and their families plan for more enriching tomorrow. So if you identify a military connection in students in your class, don't forget the extraordinary load they carry beyond being *just a student* :o)