It's that time of year again

It's been a really fast summer. At least it feels that way to me. Maybe it's an age thing but it seems like time continues to speed up. It seems like only yesterday that we were graduating another crop of successful students from MCC and already it's time to start a new academic year.

It was a good summer for me. I stayed closer to home than I have in summers past. That wasn't really out of design, it just seemed to happen that way. For the first time in several years, I didn't make it to Denver for a concert or a ballgame and I regret that I didn't. It's always a fun time in Denver and I plan on making up for that next summer.

I did go to Arkansas twice, once to take in a couple of concerts with my ex-wife and the second time to marry off my middle son. Both of those occasions were excellent adventures and Michael is now a happily married man.

I played a little more golf than usual but not as many tournaments, although there are still two left to play on my schedule. I did manage to play practically every weekday morning with my playing partner and friend, Jim Lemon, and that was an absolute treat. Jim and I are both highly competitive and although our friendship runs true and deep, there's nothing either one of us would rather do than beat the other one on the golf course. This year's championship goes to Jim but I've already put him on notice that next summer will be different.

Monday is orientation day for new students at MCC and classes officially start Monday night. The enrollment numbers look good this year and faculty, staff, and administration is geared up and excited about starting a new year, seeing old faces, and meeting and getting to know new ones.

If you haven't decided on whether to go to college yet, or you have a child or grandchild who is in the lurch, you would be hard pressed to find a better educational opportunity than right here in McCook at MCC. We have a faculty I would put up against any in terms of knowledge, dedication to task, and a burning desire to make our students as successful as possible.

As the world continues to become more technologically advanced, the need for an education beyond high school becomes more and more important because the need for educational credentials continues to increase. The income differential for people who have college degrees over those who don't continues to increase almost exponentially over a worker's lifetime and the only thing about that that's going to change is the gap will continue to grow. The money a person will earn with just a two year college degree is significantly more than a person will make with just a high school diploma and for every educational degree beyond that, the income differential increases even more dramatically.

All of us know that college isn't for everyone. Some simply aren't motivated by the college environment and should not be in an academic transfer program. But colleges are now offering a wide variety of potential degree programs that don't fit the traditional college curriculum and McCook Community College does the same thing.

So, if you're a potential student or you know one, there's no time like the present to pursue some kind of higher education, be it a traditional college degree or learning a skill or a trade that will allow you to compete and prosper in the ever-changing work environment.

I love this time of year because it's filled with beginnings and possibilities. The leaves will begin to change before long, there will be crispness in the air in the morning, football season is just around the corner and some of us are blessed with the opportunity and privilege of educating our young in the areas of our expertise.

Every year at this time, it's like being reborn.

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A 24 hour bug prevented me from writing my column last week. I appreciate all the phone calls and emails received from my readers inquiring about the column's absence from the paper.