Humility: Accepting the truth about one’s own worth, gifts, and limitations, neither thinking too highly of ourselves nor thinking less of ourselves than we should.
Humility Reflection by Dean Beckman, MS, Chair, Department of Business and Communication
We live in a world where “getting noticed” is increasingly equated with “getting ahead.” Clicks are monetized and influencers are celebrated. Loud is strong; quiet is weak. And while some of that can be true to a degree, I’d like to defend the quality of humility in today’s society,especially at a Lasallian Catholic University such as ours.
Humility is accepting the truth about one’s own worth, gifts, and limitations, neither thinking too highly of ourselves nor thinking less of ourselves than we should. Applied to our work here at Saint Mary’s, it’s having the confidence to know that our knowledge and experience are valued and should be used to work with others in achieving a goal greater than our own desired outcome. No task is too small; everyone is valued for what each contributes to the whole. There is no greater example of humility than Jesus, who, as God’s son, walked among us and ate, drank, talked, lived, and died with both sinners and Saints.
In the Twelve Virtues of a Good Teacher, Brother Agathon, fifth Superior General of the Brothers of the Christian Schools from 1777-1795, wrote, “The humility of a good teacher makes him courageous. He does not turn away from whatever may be lowly and uninviting in the schools and in the students. He welcomes them with kindness and mildness.” Brother Agathon also writes that a good teacher also treats “both his equals and his inferiors with esteem, cordiality, friendliness, and kindness.”
So, as our school year continues, let’s have the “confidence” and the “courage” to keep the best interests of our students and University, and not those of ourselves, at the forefront of everything we do.
