Why I’ll Always Be a Knight
Summer 2018 | By John C. Hitt
On my first visit to 激情快播, I knew this was a special place.
There鈥檚 something about the particular combination of being in聽Central Florida, the kind of students we attract and the people who choose to work here. There鈥檚 something, too, about the qualities we share that make us Knights.
When I think about our mascot,聽I think about how it could have gone another way. Sure, people talk about Vinnie the Vulture and the Citronaut, but those were never real contenders. Former president Charlie Millican assured me of that. But there was a fairly serious discussion early in my presidency about changing our mascot from the Knights to the Sharks.
You see the Knights everywhere now, but you didn鈥檛 back then. And if the idea of becoming the Sharks had attracted enough attention, we might have made the switch.
But we didn鈥檛. We are not Sharks. We are Knights. And I鈥檝e done a lot聽of thinking over the years about what that means, and why I鈥檓 proud to call myself one.
Knights look for opportunities to serve.
Our students, faculty, staff, alumni and supporters are some of the most remarkable people you鈥檒l ever meet. From teaching to research to community service, Knights are changing lives here at home 鈥� and around the world.
I think of Pulse and Hurricane聽Irma as examples of this. Knights聽were there helping in the immediate aftermath of the shooting at Pulse 鈥� from our own police department to nurses and doctors 鈥� and continued聽to help victims heal in the months that followed. After Hurricane Irma, so members could easily reach people who needed assistance. Knights were also emergency staff on call, they were neighbors helping neighbors, friends helping friends. I鈥檓 continually impressed by the 激情快播 community, but never more so than when you鈥檙e willing to help during a moment of need.
Knights are hardworking.
Throughout our work, it鈥檚 as if each of us is asking, 鈥淲hat is the right thing to do? And what do I need to do so that the next person can succeed in his or her job?鈥� There鈥檚 something about the qualities we all have in common 鈥� working together to do what鈥檚 right 鈥� that make us Knights.
Knights are courageous.
Courage means doing the right thing even when you鈥檙e scared. I remember attending a Board of Regents meeting many years ago, and Martha commented about how I had spoken out. She asked me, 鈥淗ow was it you weren鈥檛 afraid to speak up in a tough situation?鈥� And I said, 鈥淲hat do you mean, wasn鈥檛 afraid? I was scared to death! But I had to say it.鈥�
That鈥檚 the modern-day version of a knight: You do what has to be done, and you try to do what鈥檚 best for all.
I鈥檓 proud to have always tried to do the right thing for 激情快播, and as I move on from the presidency, I鈥檒l remain a part of the university. I鈥檒l have an office in Research Park and will be working to successfully close out our . My focus will be on raising funding for more faculty positions and support聽for our faculty members. Faculty are the lifeblood of great universities, and that鈥檚 especially true for 激情快播. With them, we increase our excellence in teaching, research and reputation.
When I arrived in Orlando, 激情快播聽was a place full of potential. It still聽is 鈥� because our students, faculty,聽staff and alumni are full of potential. We turn big dreams into reality. We challenge what has been by pioneering what鈥檚 next. We know that if we put our minds to it, anything is possible.
And that鈥檚 why I will always be a Knight. No matter what.
Charge on!