Sandeep Mazumder, college president

It is exciting to begin the semester feeling at home at Berry College. Last year at this time, I was still learning my way around. But now I have my favorite running route, and the deer no longer surprise me. I am so grateful to this student body that welcomed my family with open arms and made us feel like we always belonged here.

The administration has been hard at work this year, taking stock of Berry’s most distinctive qualities and drafting a strategic plan to steer our decisions and efforts over the next several years. We are in a position of strength, and we look forward to sharing this road map for our institution in the coming weeks. As we discussed how to remain faithful to our roots while thinking boldly about the future, one idea continually resurfaced: how Berry prepares students for a world defined by change.

While we planned and prioritized, I have been highly aware that many of you are beginning your college journey in a moment in history that is quantifiably more uncertain than in years past. With artificial intelligence (AI) in particular, there are likely a host of jobs and industries that don’t exist right now that may change the course of history in the next five to 10 years. The exciting part is that your generation will help shape much of that future. But it is also understandable that many of you may feel apprehensive about what is to come.

In reflecting on how best to encourage students this semester, two mindsets cultivated by a Berry education stood out. They offer both confidence and peace as you face
the future.

The first is an entrepreneurial mindset, which does not require creating a start-up or minoring in entrepreneurship. Instead, it means taking advantage of the moments in a Berry journey that foster entrepreneurial-like thinking. The Martin Trust Center for MIT Entrepreneurship defines those with an entrepreneurial mindset as people who are solutions-oriented, adaptable and anti-fragile. The center argues that the world needs people with these traits in every field.

Being solutions-oriented requires becoming a lifelong knowledge seeker and having a genuine curiosity for life. Solutions-oriented people have a desire to creatively solve the problems they come up against. They are resourceful, critical thinkers who see problems as opportunities.

Those who are adaptable embrace change with optimism. They figure out ways to apply their knowledge to a variety
of contexts.

The final trait of an entrepreneurial mindset is anti-fragile. Bill Aulet, managing director of the Martin Trust Center, said anti-fragility requires four parts: head, heart, hands and home.

That sounds familiar, right?

The head represents critical-thinking skills — the ability to apply one’s knowledge and the planning required in times of change.  The heart symbolizes clear understanding of purpose, knowing your why. It is being able to tell yourself, “This is what I was made for.”  And finally, Aulet says hands reflect the movement from thinking to action. It is converting the head’s knowledge into the capability to get things done.

What struck me was how closely these ingredients for anti-fragility align with Berry’s mission. In many ways, a Berry education develops exactly the kind of resilience and fortitude needed in today’s ever-evolving world.

Aulet’s final piece of the equation is home. He shares the value of accomplishing your work in a supportive community. Our mission describes the way graduates will become leaders who cultivate thriving communities. Learning to lead and live in community begins here on campus. It begins in residence halls, on athletic teams, in classrooms, behind the scenes of a play and during late-night conversations. You learn to live in a community as part of a student work team or in the development of a research project. The good neighbor culture here and the network of mentors available to you all offer you stability as you try new things, fail and try again.

You may not feel entrepreneurial on some days. You may feel lost in today’s problems. Or you may feel rigid in your thinking. That’s okay. Berry is full of people and opportunities that will stretch and strengthen your mindset muscles
this semester.

Beyond entrepreneurial habits of mind, a Berry education offers students a process-oriented mindset. While I encourage you to be excited about the future, the age of AI does require discernment. There is a fine line between AI enhancing creativity and hindering it.

I recently rewatched journalist Michael Pollan’s documentary about food, titled Cooked. One of the most important takeaways from his work is the value of the process. His writing and the show illustrate what is gained through not cutting corners in food preparation. Using the four classical elements of cooking, he argues cooking connects us to our humanity, and removing the process can actually harm our health, culture and even our community bonds.

I believe the same is true in the learning environment. Although you may walk away with a research publication, a project or a piece of artwork, the process, rather than the product, is often the most powerful part of your education.

The most difficult and frustrating moments are those when you are really growing. In a culture that often worships comfort and ease, shortcuts may feel like the norm. Looking at one of the old oaks on campus, Martha Berry once observed, “The troubles you have are what make you.” She respected hardship as a profound teacher that opens our eyes, softens our hearts and emboldens our resolve.

We, at Berry, are not here to let you just check boxes to get a diploma. We want to walk with you as you grow into incredible people, sharpening your gifts and talents into tools to change the world. To sit in the frustration or to weather the process is still essential to being successful tomorrow.  Knowing when to be efficient and when to put in the work is something I hope we can teach you to discern in your four years here.

As the semester begins, I encourage you to seek out experiences that strengthen these two mindsets. Say yes to opportunities that develop entrepreneurial thinking and lean into difficulty, as Martha would say. Do not shy away from the challenges that demand patience and perseverance. Not just for the good grades, but so that you can boldly face tomorrow with confidence.