This week’s theme is confidence opens doors. It’s a phrase I don’t just like, I live by it, and I teach it every day in my classroom. As a communication instructor at a community college in Charlotte, NC, I spend a lot of time helping students feel more capable when they present. And here’s what I’ve learned: confidence isn’t something you either “have” or “don’t have.” Confidence is something you build, especially through practice, preparation, and the way you carry yourself

Last night, I read a powerful story from Emotional Intelligence 2.0 about a surfer who faced a shark and chose calm over panic, escaping danger. This reminded me how fear limits us in life, not just in danger. At an AI conference, I noticed professors’ fear of the unknown, worried about AI’s impact on education. While their concerns are valid, fear can block innovation. Remember, fear is human, but courage has the final word.

There is treasure in some things and in people who are perceived as unvalued. In memory of my father, I was reminded that a person’s junk...