Title: Are You Engaged? 

Are you engaged? 

Don’t worry—this isn’t a question I would put a student on the spot to answer. But it is a question worth asking yourself. Maybe an even better way to phrase it is this:
Are you engaging with your classmates, with your instructors, and with your environment? 

Engagement is more than just being physically present in class. It’s about participation, curiosity, connection, and energy. 

I see engagement in the moments that might seem small but actually matter a great deal. 

I see it when students come up during breaks to ask thoughtful questions.
I see it when someone brings their laptop to the front and says, “Can you look at this?” or “Can you help me understand my grade?”
I see it when I walk around the classroom, and students call me over to review their work or clarify a concept. 

That is engagement. 

I see it outside the classroom too. When I’m walking across campus, and a student greets me with a genuine, “Hey, Mr. Ryan!”—that’s engagement. When you wave, smile, or acknowledge one another in passing—that’s engagement. 

These actions might seem simple, but they build something much bigger. 

Engagement means you are invested.
It means you are taking ownership of your experience.
It means you are contributing to a positive, interactive, and safe learning environment—not just for yourself, but for everyone around you. 

And that matters. 

Because your time at AUHS is more than just coursework and grades. It’s an opportunity to grow, to connect, and to build a foundation for your future. 

I also want to emphasize this: your instructors are not just here to teach content—we are here as resources for your future. Over the past three years, I’ve written multiple letters of recommendation for graduating students. Each one of those students took the step to engage—by asking questions, building relationships, and allowing me to truly get to know them. Those letters helped open doors for them in the medical field. 

That opportunity is available to you, too—but it starts with engagement. 

So wave.
Say hello.
Ask questions.
Check in.
Encourage one another.
Wish someone a great day. 

Small actions create a strong community. 

And I’ll leave you with this reminder: 

“A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” – John 13:34 

Engagement, at its core, is about connection—and connection begins with how we treat one another.