A Very Successful Staff

To my friends in the Centennial Class and the greater Connecticut College community:

For some of us, our time at Connecticut College has been reduced to twenty-six days. Over the next few weeks, we will graduate ready to embrace new opportunities and new challenges.  In the last few years we have learned (I hope) how to think independently, manage our time effectively and problem solve.  However, with every late night, every anxious worry prior to an exam and every completed assignment, we have always looked to the future.  Whether it is attending a graduate school, accepting a job or starting a family, I would argue that all of our aims are alike.  We work hard so we can become successful in life.  But I ask you like so many have done before me, what does this word ‘success’ really mean?  What really is a ‘successful’ person?  Before I go on, I would like to share with you a story that inspired me to ask myself those questions. This story comes from a college student:

During my second month of college, our professor gave us a pop quiz. I was a conscientious student and had breezed through the questions, until I read the last one: “What is the first name of the woman who cleans your dorm?” Surely this was some kind of joke. I had seen the cleaning woman several times. She was tall, dark-haired and in her 50s, but how would I know her name? I handed in my paper, leaving the last question blank. Before class ended, one student asked if the last question would count toward our quiz grade. “Absolutely,” said the professor. “In your careers you will meet many people. All are significant.”

On the surface, this story ostensibly highlights the importance of recognizing even the strangers in our lives. Yet, I would argue that this story further helps us understand the word ‘success.’  Connecticut College is a special community with a very accomplished administration, faculty, teachers and students.

While Connecticut College is not an exclusive community, some of the less obvious and sometimes forgotten, but most successful people at this school are those on the staff.  It would be impossible to mention everyone, but from Eddie and all the others in Dining Services, to Diane at Oasis, Mark at Cro Bar, to all the maintenance and building services at Physical Plant, to Director Smith and all the Campus Safety officers, Jim MacDonald at the Reference Desk, Merrill, Kathy, Joan and Marilyn at Events and Catering, Lynne McCue at the Office of College Community. This list just goes on and on. How can one forget about all the hard work in the Office of College Relations; the Registrar and Business office; the Office of Admissions; Bonnie Wells, Wendy Mahon, Kathleen Murphy and Robin Tucker in the President’s office, and a very special office that has taught me more than any one department on campus: the Office of Student Life, run by Dean Briddell and the rest of the staff. All these kind, thoughtful, helpful and compassionate people are some of Connecticut College’s most committed, intelligent and enthusiastic members.

The professor in the story advised his students that in their careers they will meet many people, and each one will be significant. Through his story, we can better understand the meaning of success.  Success is happiness, pride in work well done and, most of all, people to love and who love us in return. That is true success. If my time as SGA President has taught me one thing it is that the Connecticut College community is an extremely compassionate, giving, and dedicated group of highly gifted individuals that does not just include our distinguished faculty and student body, but also our very accomplished staff. Over our last few weeks together I encourage all of you to take a moment and appreciate the work of Connecticut College’s staff.  Reach out to that person who may not have guided you through the Industrial Revolution in America or taught you how to conjugate verbs in Spanish, but instead the individuals who prepared your breakfast and cleaned your residence halls. Show your appreciation and thank them before it is too late. •