President’s Weekly Messages

It's almost Thanksgiving Day, and I have a few things to say

Monday, November 22, 2021

Dear KCC Students,

Recently I had the incredible fortune of running into my 5th grade teacher who I had not seen since 1978.  She was one of my many favorite teachers and I was excited to see her again.  Our chance reunion made me think about all the teachers I had from elementary, middle and high school, college and beyond (because teachers don’t just exist in classrooms or schools).   I remember them all fondly along with the roles they played in helping me to grow into the person I am today.  It’s been 43 years since I saw Ms. Garcia.  I probably didn’t tell her then, but I surely took the opportunity to say THANK YOU for believing in me.  

You should know by now that I have a one-track mind when it comes to you.  My weekly messages serve one purpose: to encourage you to stay on track toward achieving your goals.  This week though, in the spirit of Thanksgiving I’ve got some extra things to say!   

First, I want to encourage you to reach out to that person who helped you to become the person that you are; that special person that always has your back; that person who supports you; that person that did that nice thing for you; a KCC staff member or professor; a teacher; a family member, or a friend and say ‘THANK YOU’.  Let them know that you appreciate them.  

Here’s the second thing on behalf of the Kingsborough faculty and staff, if I have never told you before, let me say it now: THANK YOU KCC students!  You all inspire and motivate us to give our very best.  With every email you send me, every conversation I have with you at the front gate, on campus, and on zoom, you inspire me to be a better person and a better leader. 

And finally, and most importantly, here is maybe the most important part of my message today: I want to remind you (and in the process remind myself as well) that Thanksgiving isn’t about just one day, it is about being grateful and thankful every day.   Let me say that again.  Let us be grateful and thankful every day.

President Schrader