MCC Daily Tribune

Quotes That Inspire

As we begin a new semester and academic year, unlike any experienced before, we have Associate Professor of ESOL/Transitional Studies Marcia Fugate to thank for this week's inspiring quote.

"I love people who harness themselves, an ox to a heavy cart,
who pull like water buffalo, with massive patience,
who strain in the mud and the muck to move things forward,
who do what has to be done, again and again.

I want to be with people who submerge
in the task, who go into the fields to harvest
and work in a row and pass the bags along,
who are not parlor generals and field deserters
but move in a common rhythm
when the food must come in or the fire be put out."

- from "To be of use" by Marge Piercy, American poet, novelist, and social activist

According to Marcia, "These two stanzas from the poem express what it has felt like for me working as an MCC employee throughout my career and even more so during this COVID pandemic. Over the last nine weeks, TOGETHER, at all levels in the organization, we dug in, harnessed ourselves and moved in a common rhythm to prepare, support each other and fully transition to a remote learning format while maintaining our commitment to [providing] a meaningful learning experience for MCC students.

"The ingenuity and ongoing support of the Virtual Campus Support staff, Computer and Network Services, the MCC Foundation, the TCC, MCC Administrators and especially the support of ESOL/TRS faculty has been phenomenal. ... 'No parlor generals and field deserters here at MCC.'"

Thank you for reflecting on your MCC experience and acknowledging our colleagues, Marcia. We have all born witness to how hard we are working through this pandemic experience. Serving students and one another through these demanding times has taken extra effort. Marge Piercy's poem and Marcia's reflection capture the essence of how MCC has responded in these difficult times.

Thank you for doing "what had to be done" to welcome students to MCC's Fall 2020 Semester. MCC inspires because of you.

Is there a quote that inspires you as an educator and leader? If so, submit it along with a brief narrative about why the quote resonates for you to PresOffice@monroecc.edu. "Quotes That Inspire" are shared with colleagues on Fridays in the MCC Daily Tribune.

Katherine Douglas
Office of the President
08/28/2020