People & Positivity, A Message from the VPI

A message from the Vice President of Instruction.

“ONE PERSON CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, AND EVERYONE SHOULD TRY”  - John F. Kennedy

In my Fall 2024 Institute Day remarks, I asked, and MJC, you delivered! The semester promised many new adventures, as all new semesters do, but Fall 2024 in particular was going to be different.  I shared the JFK, Jr. quote “One person can make a difference, and everyone should try” as a message of encouragement for you, but also as a message to myself. As usual, the MJC community came through for me. Instances of positivity were immediate. 

At Bienvenida, when a few of us hung around to clean up, students shared that they often donate leftovers from college events to the Salvation Army. Picking up on the look of genuine curiosity on my face, they asked “Do you want to go?”  Yes, I wanted to go.  Soon, we were loading aluminum trays into the bed of my truck.  I felt proud to stand alongside the students that afternoon as we served the Salvation Army community in this impromptu and unofficial but so meaningful representation of MJC and of humanity. (pic.2)

I’ve been so impressed by the good work carried out by allies who routinely care for the diverse interests of quiet groups on campus who may never have thought they are seen.  We see you.  The Rise Up Center is where I met some of the most determined and tenacious role models on campus. They represent their programs to the Board of Trustees and at the Rising Scholars Symposium, highlighting the positive impacts they make. They, along with representatives from the Pride Center who hosted the Pride Education Conference continue to make space for people who previously may have thought no space was reserved for them. (pic.1)

The persistence of positivity led me to a presentation in the Library and Learning Center where it seemed the speech was directed toward me: “Surround yourself with positive people." The L&LC puts institutional structure behind individual voices and the words continue to creep into my consciousness as I head into the conclusion of my first semester as the Vice President of Instruction. (pic.3)

Ask for what you need. I couldn’t have predicted at Institute Day that the Salvation Army afternoon would happen or that I would have the opportunity to listen to an inspirational speech in the Library, but because I was in need of positive people who could help me make a difference and because I asked, I found them right here at MJC. 

I hope all of you put a successful and fulfilling cap on Fall 2024, leave MJC behind for a few refreshing vacation days, and return enriched with all of the positivity that each of us needs to give to one another.