Each August, as we prepare for the new academic year, TCC suspends operations for professional development and a campus-wide welcome back event, Eagles RISE.  This year, the theme of the event centered around WHAT, HOW, and WHY – what we do, how we do it and why we do it – based on a popular TED Talk by Simon Sinek.

While the “what” and “how” of TCC is fairly straightforward, it’s the “why” that makes any organization special and our college is special. It is the reason we do what we do and it starts with each of us who work here. Our welcome back event was filled with personal stories from our faculty and staff about the transformative experiences that led them to this work, and fun … lots of fun.

I shared my own “why,” and realized that it was actually my first why, though many more have continued to follow. My first “why” happened as the result of a dual enrollment program I had the opportunity to create in Gadsden County that allowed high school seniors to earn the credential necessary to become employed as a correctional officer in Florida. The mother of one of our graduates thanked me for “moving her daughter into the middle class.” That comment moved me greatly, to realize just how our work changes the lives of our graduates and their families.

When you understand the true impact that an education can have, this work we do becomes more than just a job. I choose to work at TCC because I believe providing a better future for our students and their families is our “why.” The wonderful thing is that all of Florida’s colleges share the same core commitment to our students.

This coming year, all of the colleges in Florida will be pursuing funding from the legislature to give us the resources necessary to be successful in serving our students and ensuring their success. I will have a new role, having been elected as the Vice-Chair of the Council of Presidents for the Florida College System, and Chair of their Policy and Advocacy Committee. I will help lead the charge to secure appropriate funding from the state legislature for the college system. Collectively, we serve more than 800,000 students across the state – double that of our state universities – and we produce high-quality graduates that most often stay in Florida and help strengthen their communities. We are the talent supply Florida’s employers need to be competitive and profitable.

Our college system delivers on the “why” each and every year. It’s important that we are recognized for this work and funded accordingly, and I believe we will be.

With that said, on behalf of the entire TCC community, it is my pleasure to welcome back our new and returning students to the start of the academic year. They are the reason we are here. They are our “why.” Find your why!