Hello, and welcome to the Ms. Behavior Blog. I'm one of your hosts, Colette, and this year my friend Kurt and I started a podcast. On the show, we talk about college student conduct and invite other conduct nerds to join us so we can talk even more about university discipline. It's fun.
I love student conduct. I mean I love it. LOVE LOVE LOVE it. Sometimes, student conduct is physically draining, but that's because it's such great work. I remember being a college student and I cringe and all the life lessons I hadn't learned yet. Thank goodness for the all the people who didn't write me off, but instead helped me grow. In today's all-or-nothing world, I hope student conduct can be a place where students find unexpected empathy and support, so they can take intellectual risks and explore their ever-evolving identities. Ms. Behavior is where Kurt and I get to explore the potential of this amazing practice.
Today, I sat down to contemplate potential New Year's Resolutions. Kurt taught me over 20 years ago, that if you put your wishes out into the world, magic happens. He started a blog way back when "blog" was a new word, and he wrote down his dreams. Tons of them. As a result, friends and family members started reaching out to him to tell him things like, "Hey, that fantasy you have about being an extra on a sitcom? I can make that happen." I incorporated Kurt's practice and even built it into classes I taught. People who keep their deepest (and even their shallowest) dreams a secret, are likely depriving themselves of many fulfilled wishes. All it takes is a little vulnerability.
[NOTE TO SELF] Next time I sit down with Kurt, I need to tell him about how much his blog practice still impacts me to this day.
Okay, so let's be brave, Colette. What do you dream for this year? What do you resolve to do?
1. Admittedly, the Ms. Behavior Podcast sounds like it's recorded and edited by someone without podcasting expertise. Guilty as charged. This year, I'm going to add some more polish to the production. I don't want to lose our sense of fun, but, I'm going to learn more and it will show.
2. I'm going to invite my idols to be guests on the cast. This year, we had a bang up roster of guests that we knew. It's been awesome. Now, it's time to exercise our vulnerability, too. There are so many authors, innovators, intellectuals, theorists, communicators, humorists, scientists... Jeez. I read their books, watch their Ted Talks, talk about them in meetings...but I'm a chicken about inviting them to Ms. Behavior (see Resolution 1 for the primary reason). In 2026, we're going to invite the people we were afraid to invite.
3. This one's pretty meta. For years, I've compiled a list of conduct-related blog titles, with no actual posts to go with them. This year, I will write at least one post a month. That's 12 11 posts, suckers. Just you wait!
4. We're going to double our listenership this year. And we're not afraid to do it through swag. If you're reading this and would like a little Ms. Behavior decor, just go to any podcast episode and send us a text with your contact info.
Now, I will post this and immediately think of lots of more resolutions I should have added. But, honestly, it's Boxing Day and I've got some new toys to play with. Plus, I'd rather hear about your resolutions this year. What's new and scary and exciting for you in 2026 and what sort of accountability do you need to make it happen? Let us know!
