What are secrets anyway?

It is not unusual for me to plunge into a new pool (i.e. adventure) without really checking out the water. So as a newbie to blogging I confess my first post might have been excessly boring to anyone who may have ventured to read it. I have begun to explore a wide range of blogs, technorati.com, and now realize it is important as always to be clear about who as the author I hope will read my posts. My secrets and stories from the trenches of providing student support in higher ed are aimed at those possible readers who view higher ed as a total mystery. I am writing to those who feel excluded or out of place even if they are part of higher ed. I am not writing for professors of sociology or education who are part of the insiders already. Though in checking out some of their blogs I find interesting info. I guess the secret for tonight is that as bloggers we don't select our readers. I believe it was Garrison Keiller who said he could only broadcast on radio by imagining in detail one listener who was the only one hearing him and trying to hold her interest. So I will secretly imagine my one reader and hope to hold her/ your interests. Secrets it seems to me only exist until someone is bold enough to shout the truth. My adventure in trying to tell what I believe are the secrets of higher ed. (to some who feel excluded) begins as I plunge into the pool.

My first Blog ever: a moment of silence please to celebrate this accomplishment. I'm not sure exactly what I mean by the secrets of higher ed. I don't have a list to post if that is what you were hoping for: sorry about that I realize lists are popular. I worked for many years in various colleges and universities: three different community colleges over about ten years, about three years at a private liberal arts college loosely church related (Methodist) and 14+ years in a regional state university. My positions ranged from teaching various courses (though never a real "professor") through various positions in student academic support - like advisor, etc. Until last summer I was the Director of a Student Support Services program which was aimed at increasing the success rate of students coming from low-income, first-generation backgrounds. I loved this job and the program itself. I really believe that I was able to make a difference in the lives of students who were highly unlikely to be successful in higher ed based on their social class background alone. So this is the first "secret": social class upon entry is the bigger predictor of college success! Which I feel is appalling and most be changed somehow! Now I hope someone will read this post and ask me questions so I can figure out what to say next.