During The University of Olivet’s Opening Convocation on Aug. 21, 2024, Amir Jones was one of four students to share their reflections on their growth at the university.
“It is a full circle moment to me that I was given this opportunity to speak at this year’s opening convocation being that the theme for this year is growth. In my time here in Olivet I have seen nothing but growth. I have grown myself physically, which if you’d met me my freshman year, you clearly can see, but also mentally, and I can thank Olivet for that. I’ve seen friends grow, I’ve seen this campus grow, and I’ve seen this community grow. I mean, our institution itself has grown as when I enrolled, it was a college, but in May, I will be graduating from a university. As we look around, we see the growth in our community, with things like the Cutler Student Center, which was once McKay Gym, which has given us an opportunity to further connect with those around us. We look across the street from Cutler Event Center at the Block House, which was once the Lamplighter. It has given us an opportunity to grab a bite to eat, play video games and connect with those around us.
Although the growth is shown in the new buildings that were built and renovated, the real growth comes from the connections and conversations that we can have in these spaces. We are essential to each other’s growth. I know that we feel this way as a university when I see the attendance at rallies like the It’s on Us rally and ELITES’s Black Lives Matter March. The engagement from clubs, Greek organizations, sports teams and the student body as a whole has gotten larger every year that I’ve been here to see it.
Peers, professors, coaches and the Olivet community members will be essential for your growth here as a student, but more importantly, essential to your growth as a person. In terms of peers, there is a guarantee you will build a connection with a fellow student or group of students in which, naturally, you will learn from each other and grow together. In my case, it was my fraternity that helped catapult my growth as I was around individuals who did nothing but teach me things and give me tools to help me grow. In terms of professors, build relationships with your professors and other faculty. Use those office hours that they have available. I built relationships with professors who helped me with my organization and procrastination, two things that were holding me back from growing as a student. For our student-athletes, coaches are extremely important for growth, as coaches have seen many different types of students and have seen the results of what happens when students have bad habits. Many of my coaches have taught me lessons directly and indirectly which have helped me grow as a man.
There are two things about growth that are certain, it is inevitable, and it is unpredictable. My challenge to you all today is to not be afraid to grow. We would never grow as a society if no one came forth with ideas that they thought no one would listen to. Take that idea you’ve been thinking of seriously, go out and make friends, go all in on the hobby you really enjoy, let go of all the weight on your shoulders from past experiences, do whatever is necessary for you to grow. Be the person to induce that growth for yourself and those around you.”