Lately, I’ve been thinking a great deal about the world we are living in and the future we are building for the next generation. It’s hard to absorb the negative stories reported across the world without feeling overwhelmed, and I understand the temptation to feel pessimistic.
Even in the face of these challenges, I remain optimistic about the future. Wherever I go and with whomever I speak, I try to share that sense of hope. And I’m sure there are some people who think, “Jorge, are you living on another planet? Do you read the news?” I can assure you, I do.
My optimism comes from having spent the last 10 years at Kalamazoo College, where I have seen, again and again, our community’s deep commitment to making the world a better place.
I am optimistic because I have seen our faculty and staff work tirelessly to prepare our students for the world they are going to face. They help students develop their own confident voices and give them a set of tools for solving complex problems. When students leave, their sense of the world is larger than when they arrived.
I am optimistic because I have met our students. They are full of energy, guided by strong moral compasses, and committed to creating the kind of world they want to live in. When you combine their values, their innate abilities, their determination, and the education they have received at K, it is impossible not to be optimistic about their future impact.
I am optimistic because I have seen the difference that thousands of K alumni are making in the world today, as well as their aspirations for a better future for all of us. I have also seen firsthand the deep commitment of our Board of Trustees, alumni, and friends to ensuring that K’s exceptional opportunities remain accessible to all talented students who want to be here and are willing to work hard to succeed.
As I write my final LuxEsto letter, my heart and soul overflow with emotion—optimism, but above all, a profound sense of gratitude.
Serving as President of Kalamazoo College over the past decade has been the greatest honor of my professional life. I am deeply grateful for your unwavering support of both the College and me personally. We have shared countless joyful moments and navigated a few challenging ones, but through it all, we stood together, united in our commitment to the College’s mission.
I am also profoundly grateful that the love of my life, Suzie, has walked beside me every step of the way—pouring her heart, energy, and her own K education into the work that we have carried forward together. I truly could not have done this without her.
I know that wherever life may take Suzie and me, we will take K’s light with us. Lux Esto! Optimism and gratitude feel like the perfect words for me to share in my last letter.
Oh…and one more word:
Saludos,
Jorge G. Gonzalez
President