DIXIE TECHNICAL COLLEGE MESSAGE
Were you as glad as I was to kick 2020 to the curb? Like many of you, I anticipated that 2020 would be some sort of wonder as a year of perfect or 20/20 vision. Perfect. Vision. Perhaps 2020 was a year to help us refocus and develop better vision or at the very least, develop a better perspective on what we were seeing then and how we could go forward and see things more clearly into the future. Perhaps we were taking a great deal for granted. Perhaps we did not actually see all of the good things in our daily lives. In that regard, 2020 gave us a chance to appreciate what we have by showing us how fragile our circumstances are and how quickly things can deteriorate. COVID-19 showed us how susceptible the entire world was to a simple virus. It showed us how, with all of the wonders of modern medicine, our healthcare community could be confounded and taken to its knees. It showed us that what we thought were solid, stable economies could be crushed within weeks. It showed us that we needed to be wise in having important supplies on hand because store shelves could empty in a matter of hours. For many, it showed that we were no match for the devastating and destructive power of a tiny but wily microscopic bug. As if that wasn’t enough, 2020 gave us all kinds of sudden natural disasters, from raging fires to floods and from earthquakes to hurricanes, typhoons, and tsunamis. And to all of that, add political strife, riots, racial division, and unrest like our country hasn’t seen in decades. Is it safe to say that 2020 opened our eyes to a great deal, forcing us to see what we would rather not have seen? Good riddance to 2020! Welcome, 2021! With this new year comes an opportunity to show what our enhanced vision has done for us. May we appreciate more. May we recognize that every single day is a gift and that health and strength are bonuses. May we recognize that work is a blessing and that the work of others blesses our lives each day in very obvious and specific ways. I’m especially tuned in to the work of others. I’m mindful every time I flip a light switch, turn on a tap, or adjust my thermostat, and I silently give thanks for our electricians, plumbers, and HVAC technicians. Seeing our stellar police force risking their lives every day to protect our peace makes my heart swell. It swells when I see an ambulance and know that skilled EMTs and paramedics are at work saving a life. For the brave and compassionate people who keep our healthcare offices, pharmacies, and hospitals open and do everything they can to make us well, I give thanks. I’m thankful for the genius brains that can fix my computer, create beauty, or design apps for my phone. For those who craft a lovely meal, design a home or commercial building, drive a big rig, fix a big rig or a car, weld or machine the things we use every day…yes, for all of those fine folks who are happy contributors to the communities we call home, they have earned my deepest appreciation. I see them— everyone, everyday. Many of them are Dixie Tech graduates! It is my hope that 2021 will be a year of corrected vision…one in which we can all look, see, and appreciate the fine people who make our lives comfortable, safe, and good. I invite you to join me in saying to all who find joy in their chosen work, we see you! Perfectly!
Kelle Stephens President of Dixie Technical College
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