In the Wild of Changing Things

I recently happened upon an excerpt of Morgan Harper Nichols’ 2019 poem “Let July be July”. 

Amid the bustling chaos of our work as educators, it can often be challenging to pause and reflect on our combined personal and institutional journeys. However, the poem captures the significance of taking the time to appreciate ourselves, our accomplishments, and the sometimes imperceptible growth that we experience every day.

Nichols closes the poem with the refrain “Let July be July, / and let August be August, / And let yourself / just be / even in / the uncertainty, / You don’t have to fix everything. / You don’t have to solve everything. / And you can still find peace / and grow / in the wild / of changing things.”

Perhaps it was the timing of reading the poem at the outset of July and reflecting on the feelings that come along with reaching the midpoint of summer as an educator. Maybe it was a spirit of reflection as ASMSA embarks on a celebration of thirty years of accomplishments and a renewed commitment to what’s possible in our fourth decade of excellence. Even still, it resonated as I took time to assess with colleagues where we are in our aspirations as we pass the midpoint of ASMSA’s 2025 Strategic Plan.

The poem underscores the importance of recognizing the progress we have made, reminding us to take a step back from the relentless pursuit of goals and appreciate how far we have come. By acknowledging our accomplishments, we cultivate a sense of gratitude and satisfaction that fuels further growth and development. Nichols also issues a word of caution to resist the temptation of constant striving and instead embrace the present season of our lives. In doing so, we gain a deeper understanding of ourselves and our achievements.

I am incredibly grateful for the work that our faculty, staff, and students have committed to throughout the pandemic and as we emerged this past year toward a state of normalcy that had been lost for some time. When our community of learning began work on this plan in early 2020, we didn’t fully appreciate how much it would anchor our actions and reinforce our values during a period of such significant disruption. 

While Nichols’ poem advocates for taking time to reflect, it does not diminish the importance of action. However, by allowing ourselves moments of stillness, we can recharge our energies, gain clarity, and align our actions with our innermost desires, leading to more meaningful and purpose-driven work. That’s why we take time in the space between two academic years to reflect on this Strategic Plan. So let this be a note—most of all—of gratitude for the exceptional colleagues and students we have both the privilege and honor of working with each day and the mission of service we offer to the people of Arkansas to ignite its full potential.