Welcome to another outstanding year at Central Michigan University! Whether you are spending this year with us on our main campus, in one of our satellite locations or online, I hope you are refreshed and ready for excellence.
As we begin, please join me in thanking the members of our community who continued to work during the winter break to ensure we could all enjoy a successful start to 2021. We would not be where we are today without their efforts!
The start of a new year carries with it hopes for a fresh start — an opportunity to begin again with a blank slate to be filled with our aspirations, goals and dreams. Life, however, does not often ascribe to the calendar year, and most challenges do not suddenly disappear at 12:01 a.m. on New Year’s Day. Instead of a blank slate, we are beginning 2021 still faced with many of the challenges of 2020.
The events that took place last week in our nation’s capital were shocking, and many of us still feel anxious, frustrated, sad and angry. While we cannot change the events of the past, remember that we have the power — here at CMU and beyond — to be part of changing the future.
We are beginning 2021 with new hope and solutions for addressing the challenges of the past.
For example, although we still see new cases of COVID-19 rising in some areas — including a new strain of the virus — millions of vaccines are being shipped worldwide, and several new vaccinations are still being developed and tested. We saw young people turn out in record numbers in recent elections, and we now have an opportunity to build on their momentum to usher in a new era of civic engagement.
Every day, we are taking new steps toward a healthier, safer and brighter future.
At CMU, we have the opportunity to reflect on the challenges of 2020 — including the virus, economic challenges, racial inequality and others — and to respond to them with new hope, renewed passion and strengthened resolve in 2021. And we can do so together, working as a community united by our commitment to make a positive difference for our families, neighbors and friends.
How will you make 2021 a better, brighter year? Take a moment today to answer that question. Identify the goals and priorities you want to achieve — academically, professionally and personally — and write them down. Make an action plan for each, and list the people and resources you can rely on to help you accomplish those plans.
Remember: You are surrounded by people who want to see you succeed, so do not hesitate to ask for their help.
This is going to be an exciting year, full of new challenges that will require us to be our most innovative, creative and excellent selves. Let’s greet them together with a Fired-Up attitude.