moving on...

today was a day filled with messages of "moving on". this morning, maureen hartford, the president of meredith college, announced that she would be retiring following the 2010-2011 school year. i received the email via blackberry while i was at preschool, so i read it while i was walking to my car at the end of the school day. reading the email in a setting almost entirely separated from mc, i felt very neutral feelings toward this announcement. i have always held a sense of endearment for dr. hartford. having spent various occasions chatting with her on both academic and personal levels, feel that i've always respected her as the president of our college and i have been able to appreciate the fruits of the progress she has brought for our school. however, knowing that i will be long gone by the 2011-2012 (EEEEK!) school year, i didn't really feel the need to freak out about the announcement. i  know that our school is on a good track and will continue to move forward positively into the future.

returning to campus and logging on to twitter and facebook, i was able to get a grasp on other students' reactions toward dr. hartford's retirement. although i wasn't surprised, i was certainly outraged to see students rejoicing to the heavens over this announcement. while i can certainly respect my classmates' opinions, i do not endorse their outward praise for this news. in my mind, these students are discrediting their own degree and education by discounting the abilities of the administration during their time here at meredith. and, while this is their loss, i can't help but be upset by the insensitivity, closed-mindedness, and negativity. i know without a doubt in my mind that i have received an outstanding education during my time at meredith and i look forward to taking what i have learned out into the world when i graduate. i also know that the changes made during dr. hartford's presidency have greatly impacted that excellent education i've received. there are always going to be things with which we disagree; however, it is necessary to do something about our concerns rather than simply griping and continuing the negativity.

so, with that said, i am proud to have been a student at maureen hartford's meredith college and i know that this announcement will bring many more changes, but hopefully meredith will only continue to progress and move forward, challenging the norms and staying strong as a southern women's liberal arts college.

dr. hartford is moving on and so am i, as i was reminded this afternoon when i received my housing intent form for the 2010-2011 school year. i still don't know where exactly i'll be living next year or what i'll be doing or whether i'll be in school or working, but i know that i will be moving on from here and starting a new chapter. it's scary, but it's exciting, and i know my time at mc has prepared me for all that i have ahead of me.