The Alumni Board President’s Column provides a personal glimpse into Amy Denton’s journey as both a Barton College alumna and the current Alumni Board President. Drawing on her own college experiences, Amy shares timeless memories, unexpected moments, and lessons learned, while keeping alumni informed about key initiatives and events. Join her as she reflects on the past and celebrates the future of our vibrant alumni community.
Happy New Year, my fellow alumni and friends! We’ve made it a quarter way into the 21st century. It’s a new year, a new day, and a new beginning, in many ways for many of us.
I’ve never been one to make New Year’s resolutions. It’s just too hard and too much pressure for me. For you, though, it may be a lot easier! Here’s what I choose to make, instead….a new year’s prayer. It’s practically the same every year, by the way! I pray for strength, understanding, and patience to accept…and trust whatever comes my way in the new year. That includes the C word – CHANGE! Change of any sort. It simply happens. We know things can never stay the same as they are….that is, if we’re happy and content with the way things are. Or maybe we’re not happy and content with the way things are and we yearn for change….for a better way. A new day. A new beginning.
We also know change is a conscious choice or it can be forced. We all react differently depending on our personal perspective and coping mechanisms. Whether it involves our jobs/careers, our family, where we live, our diet, our friendships…the list could go on and on…change is thought of as good or bad for all the right and (maybe) wrong reasons.
I think about my job; the recent changes to the organization I work for and its brand (both far beyond my control), and how it’s taken me some time to accept CHANGE. For 25 years, “it’s always been this way” and “this is the way we’ve always done things”, so it was hard. Six months ago, I didn’t understand, trust, or have the patience to see what was to come. I let my emotions get the best of me in the moment. I had to pause and remember my “new year’s prayer”. This is what I have learned in the past six months and it’s changed me, ironically.
CHANGE is:
Challenging
Hard (but healthy)
An ability to adapt
Needed
Growth
Energizing.
It started off very Challenging and Hard, but as I was willing to Adapt I saw that we Needed it for Growth and now I feel Energized. Each month, literally, was a different feeling. It’s a new year, a new day, and a new beginning.
Change is just a process that over time takes patience, understanding, and trust. Maybe you’re in a similar place with whatever is happening in your life.
I also thinks this relates to our Alma mater. Whether it’s been a few years or 40 years, the next time you walk back on ACC/Barton’s campus you’re going to SEE change. The people; faculty, staff, and students will be different. Academic and athletic programs will be different. The grounds and buildings will be different. Things can’t always stay the way they are…or were…when you were a student or when I was a student.
More importantly, I hope you’ll FEEL changed!! That’s what this place does to us.
I hope you’ll come back soon and recognize the growth and energy we have for what we are now and for what’s to come. Accept the change and trust our potential.
If you’ve been back to campus since you’ve graduated, what’d you think? How’d you react? How’d it make you feel? Maybe you’re on campus a lot. You may witness change before your eyes almost every visit, in some way or another. What keeps you coming back?
I hope it’s CHANGE!
Commitment
Hope
Adoration
Nourishment
Gratitude
Encouragement!
Happy New Year, friends! It’s a new year, a new day, and a new beginning. See you soon!
With Bulldog pride,
Amy