4:30 a.m. comes quickly; the sound of my alarm wakes me up. OK, to be honest, it might take hearing the sound 15 times before I get up.

My clothes are ready, my bag packed, my lunch made, and my coffee just needs the start button pressed to brew. Every night prior to work, I set up all these to make my life a little easier. See, I commute really far every day, but I work in a field that you will fail in if you aren’t organized. Each morning I go through this process and think, if only my professors could see me now.

It is difficult; I have a very complicated schedule. I work approximately 55 miles from my home in an inner city school. I spend six hours a day driving. However, I am lucky; I work in my field, in the greatest city in the world.

It is the first day of school and parents are lining up for my help. It is hard not to get overwhelmed. It is a lot of pressure to be one of the sole people responsible for solving everyone’s problems. However, I remain calm, as the stress overwhelms me, the parents cannot tell because I am prepared.

I finally get a chance to check my email, “Welcome Back" it states. The halls are crowded. Each person is overwhelmed with passion to start the year. I get a text, “Did you hear about the LIU Lock out?" I research, and immediately feel bad for the professors that have taught me so much. For those not aware, instead of negotiating a new contract with professors in good faith, the board of trustees and president of the university locked out and replaced 400 faculty members. These faculty members were replaced with underqualified individuals. Reports from students have ranged from individuals with a bachelor's degree teaching a graduate class, and a Botanist teaching ballet. After doing this research, my mind traces back to September of 2009.

I had just finished undergrad, starting a school psychology graduate program. It was a difficult decision to choose what school to go to. I was nervous, I was investing a lot of money in myself, money I didn’t have. But then I had my first class, with a professor, Dr. Andrew Livanis. One of the first things he said to us mirrored something along the lines of, “The moment you sat down in these chairs, you became not only my students but my colleagues.” It hit me, I was exactly where I needed to be. I invested not only a large amount of money in my education, but I was investing in someone who invested in me. To this day he stays in my mind as one of the best professors I ever had the privilege of being taught from.

The professors of this program were not just caring about our academic lives, but they took into consideration what was affecting us everywhere. Everything about them screamed they were meant to be a teacher.

News of the lockout continued to be in my thoughts. I began to think about a moment in my third year that I still constantly think about. I was in the middle of my graduate school internship. My first time in the field, being supervised by various individuals, one in particular who in more ways than one told me that I would never make it in this field. That I do not have what it takes. That an intern from LIU would never be chosen to work with her again. I would be lying if I did not say I was devastated. I went into my professor’s room each week seeking guidance, questioning if I was meant to do this, if I have been wasting not only my time but hers as her student. I was pretty much ready to give up. Today I am forever thankful, that she was able to instill in me the power to not give up. I vividly remember her telling me, “This is one step in your journey, your internship might not be working out, but I know you can do this, I know that you are going to be a great school psychologist." It was with those words and her guidance that I found my confidence, what I have been lacking.

See, what is great about these two professors, they are more invested in you than you are in yourself. They keep in touch with you after you graduate their program. They kept in touch in regards to my job search, and my life since that day I graduated in May of 2012.

When I did get my job, they were my first congratulations and my first good luck. I never questioned what they had taught me. What they have taught me goes far beyond in the classroom. My field is stressful, fast-paced, and unpredictable. I am able to keep up in the job because of them. I still go to them with help and professional opinions on cases. They still continue to be two of my mentors.

My mind re-focuses and I go about my work day. I come across something I am not sure what to do, so I call a co-worker. A co-worker that I happened to graduate with and I ask for her advice. See, she is prepared as well because she went through the same exhausting training I did with the same two great professors. Together we are able to help me figure out what to do and I thanked her. I hang up the phone and think of the Lock Out and how seven years ago I met this co-worker, and we started together from the beginning and were molded by LIU, both proud graduates.

See Dr. Livanis, and his co-workers embedded into our heads not only strategies and concepts for success but also the importance of building relationships and coping skills. If I don’t know the answer, my co-worker may. We are always learning together. Dr. Livanis along with other professors build families, not cohorts. Many of us still speak, and throw ideas off of each other, were forever connected.

The first day of school ends and I cannot help but be sad. I am so grateful to Dr. Livanis and staff for everything they have done for me. They gave me the education and the character to be successful in my career. A teacher comes in my room and lets me know that since I have started working here, she has never felt so supported and thanks me. I couldn’t help but smile and wonder on a day where Dr. Livanis and crew are facing their own struggles if they know how much positivity they have instilled in all of their students' live. How in ways, the good we do for people is in some part thanks to them. In the last three years, I have served over 1,000 children. Dr. Livanis and staff have helped me better 1,000 children’s lives, but more importantly, they have bettered mine.

It's 3:20 p.m. I take the long ride home, to Long Island, thinking about my professors and the lockout they are facing. I can’t help thinking what is going through those who started this whole debacle minds. How education is not important in their eyes. It makes me sad for those students who are in the middle of their programs or beginning their college careers and faced with the uncertain. Your future is bright, and you deserved to be treated like that. I am sad that a mostly minority campus is forced to think that their education doesn’t matter. While I spend my life advocating that your color, your disability doesn’t defeat you, you can learn and achieve.

Finally, I am sad for my professors. The two people that helped me get to this point. I want them back in the classroom. I want other students to experience what I have. I am asking everyone reading this to help end the lockout. Write letters to those who can end this and let’s get these professors, where they belong. For they have so much good to offer this world.

Dr. Livanis and all my other professors, Thank you for everything you have ever given me. In a time of struggle and anger please know that your current students and your alumni carry your legacy every day in our work. We stand with you!