One of the most rewarding experiences of my professional career was triggered by a student’s email to the university president. It was a no-holes-barred rambling complaint of all the things wrong with one aspect of the student’s experience. He laid it all out there just before graduation when he felt he had nothing to lose. The president met with the student, and as far as the student knew, that was the end of it.
In reality, it was just the beginning. His email prompted a firing, organizational reorganization, and a cascade of changes that truly transformed the university. It also impacted many lives in significant ways, as well as affecting countless students who benefited from the results. Those of us closest to the efforts talk about it frequently — more than 20 years later — and remain in regular contact.
Through pure happenstance, one of the key players ran into this former student and shared not only the original email (preserved for posterity because it was so significant) but also told him the end of the story. He had NO IDEA anything further had happened after he met with the president, even though a large number of really significant changes had resulted.
It was an “It’s a Wonderful Life” moment, where one person leaves a legacy beyond their imagination. So many things would be different, careers altered, and the trajectory of the university changed had he not set things in motion.
It’s a reminder that one person can (and does) make a difference, though you may never know that you did. Keep using your voice, speaking up, advocating for change, pointing out injustices, and making a ruckus. Even if you never see the end result, be the beginning.
