By Xavior Hansen

In President Cantor’s most recent blog he talks about making spring resolutions. Spring; there seems no better time to resolve to make better choices. Along with spring time comes new life, and new opportunities, so why not make fresh resolutions. Let’s look at a resolution we can make here at SMCC. Let’s make new connections, let’s build ties with organizations that promote things we support, and create bonds with people/institutions that can help us grow and thrive. Working towards that goal will, in part, accomplish this resolution that President Cantor made: “Resolved, we will adjust our priorities to enhance long-term progress and success.”

Building connections is an invaluable tool that all should utilize throughout life. We at SMCC can and should work on building more ties. Sociologist Mark Granovetter did research on the importance of weak ties. He found that the majority of people looking for work (56%) found their jobs through people they saw “more than once a year but less than twice a week” This demonstrates how great the need is for us to be outgoing as a school, and avoid insular behaviours. One can never have enough allies. This is not meant to be a criticism to SMCC, rather an encouragement.

Ties lead to opportunity; both sides of the string can profit from these opportunities. SMCC can benefit from building connections with volunteer, private, and governmental organisations as well as other institutions. If there’s a worthy cause that needs man power, SMCC should be known as the place to go for great volunteers. If job positions, intern slots, or other needs have to be met, they should know where to look. When we make ties with other places, and demonstrate what a great institution we are, word spreads fast! We have so much to look forward to hear at SMCC, there’s something special about this school. We have some time before things get crazy again in the fall, so let’s do the most with it!

This quote from President Cantor’s Blog seems an appropriate note to end this article on: “These times require the best of every one of us.”