As you may or may not know, I wasn’t afforded—or prepared for—the opportunity to attend college when I was younger. So, during the Covid pandemic, I seized the moment and took on that challenge. I was determined to complete my classes as quickly and efficiently as possible. When I came across a class titled Effective Listening, I assumed it would be a breeze. After all, I considered myself a pretty good listener. Little did I know how wrong I was! What I thought would be easy turned out to be one of the most challenging—and rewarding—courses I had ever taken. This class taught me much more than how to simply hear what people were saying. It challenged me to become fully present in conversations, to listen beyond the words, and to pay attention to the emotions and intentions that lay beneath. It emphasized the importance of listening for understanding—both verbal and non-verbal cues—and approaching each conversation with empathy and compassion. Intentionality became the cornerstone of my new listening approach. One of the key takeaways was learning how to demonstrate active listening. This meant using body language, eye contact, and brief responses to show that I was engaged in the conversation.