The Greater Good at CSI

A Greater Good at CSI

In the early years of my career at CSI, I had one of those defining moments that changed my direction and ambitions dramatically. It seemed a crisis at the time, but now I look at it as just another of those lessons I was supposed to have learned. Like many of our students, I am afraid that I just tucked it into my short term bag without really understanding how valuable the lesson would be later on. It was that pre-kid, pre-brain, and pre-saved period of my life when it was all about my ambitions. I could talk the right talk, but the walk part was headed a different direction. Fortunately, I was blessed with family and friends who kept steering me the right direction. My efforts were aimed at the pursuit of fame and fortune, neither of which have I achieved or any longer desire.

Outside of my sweet little mother, one of my best guides along the way has been Jerry Meyerhoeffer. At his retirement party a few years ago, I had the honor of getting to say a few words. I told the audience that it had been quite easy to work for Jerry because I always felt like I knew who he was and what he wanted. In fact, I referred to my version of WWJD (What would Jerry do?) being a pretty easy resource for helping me to make some tough decisions. It is important to note that my motto was not WWPD (What would the President do?) for two obvious reasons. First of all, the obvious lack of connection to the Divine made it much less catchy and, secondly, I never thought of him as the “President.” He was, and is, my friend, my mentor, and my father figure. The President title only earned him a paycheck, but the other words, and how he lives them, truly describe my relationship with him.
When Graham was hurt in Phoenix, I was absolutely grounded in terms of who I am and what I am here for…and guess what, being the Dean of Students was, and is, pretty meaningless! I am Graydon, Believer, Son, Brother, Father, Friend! Those words don’t appear in my job description, but I guarantee they are the best qualifications and skills that I have to do my job. I can think of very little that I did in my pursuit of my educational degrees that prepares me to do what I do in my job, but my other lessons serve me daily. And when Graham was hurt, it was not Jerry Beck, the President, nor Mike Mason, the Vice-President, nor Randy Dill, the Director of Physical Plant, nor Jasmine Lopez, the Office Specialist, nor Joseph Lemoine, the Custodian: nor the hundreds of others who fed our dogs, mowed our lawn, prayed for us, and loved us because it was a part of their title or job. It is because each of you are first a believer in something, a relative of someone, and a friend of many. In that way, we are all equals and we bring nearly the same qualities to our job each day.

If I’ve made any sense at all to this point, it would follow that none of us are any less important than any other at CSI. The success that CSI has enjoyed to this point, the positive attitude that we carry even in difficult times, and the optimism and promise we see in our future result from the collective and equal efforts of each employee. As I move about our campus, or talk to co-workers on the phone, or listen to our students, I am often struck by how good each of you are at doing what you do. While those outstanding efforts may not result in a pay raise or an advance in rank or title, I know that you do it for a greater good. I am proud to be a part of this family! XOXO