Jacob Morton

The entire Professionalism Day program reminded me that professionalism is not just about marketability or personal “brand.” It’s about showing clients that you are trustworthy and that your job is, first and foremost, a job of service. It’s about showing colleagues that you value their unique backgrounds and perspectives. It’s about showing the communities you’re a part of that they are important and deserve your attention. The program even highlighted that professionalism involves putting family first. Balancing family, community, work, and self-care is what professionalism is all about. When professionalism is construed to mean “a set of skills expected at work” it is reduced to something intended for economic gain. True professionalism is the lifelong practice of sincerity, temperance, hard work, and generosity. It’s a work of art, not merely a set of mechanical skills.