When a student is excited about learning, amazing things happen. I've had the joy of witnessing this firsthand with students of all ages -- seeing what happens when we, as adults and educators, give a student a nudge in a new direction.

When it comes to leadership at the highest levels, nurses are thin on the ground. In 2011, an American Hospital Association survey found that nurses hold only 6 percent of seats on hospital boards. So when decisions are being made about budgets, strategy, and policy, there usually isn't input from those who understand patient needs best.

If you're curious about human behavior and you have a passion to help people thrive, these are exciting times. The field of psychology is expanding -- often into unexpected areas -- and opportunities for psychologists are growing.

As we address issues of American competitiveness, we need to widen our lens and think differently about the education of the American workforce -- particularly of non-traditional students, like working adults.