MCC Daily Tribune

Quotes That Inspire

Since Western New York has begun opening up after the pandemic pause, I have been visiting cultural, historical and natural sites of interest on Sunday afternoons. This past weekend, I visited the Teddy Roosevelt Inaugural House in Buffalo. He is on my mind as I offer you this inspiring quote on this First Friday of September.

"Far and away the best prize that life has to offer is the chance to work hard at work worth doing." - Theodore Roosevelt, 26th President of the United States

My career is dedicated to the open-access, social-justice mission of community colleges. It is hard work, on every level, as these recent weeks and months have underscored for us all. I have found it to be incredibly rewarding as well. The joy on students' faces as they earn their degrees and certificates. The lightbulb-going-on look when a student 'gets it' in a classroom. These are among the best prizes life has offered me.

Thank you for the opportunity to experience those moments here with all of you at MCC. Take this three-day weekend to enjoy friends, family, and other sources of your joy. The hard work of the semester is in front of us as are the prizes MCC offers us in our work.

Katherine Douglas
Office of the President
09/04/2020