A Matter of Choice
Our destiny is not a question of chance; it is a matter of choice. It’s not a day in the future that we wait for, in hope. Our destiny is a goal to achieve. We have a long and proud history, but Birmingham-Southern cannot stand on the past. To fulfill our destiny, we must choose to move forward, building on our beliefs and our strengths.
“We have remembered the past—and it has been honored. We are paying attention to the present—and we have no illusions. And we are looking forward to the future—in fact, it already exists in the mind’s eye of every one of us in this room.”
Dr. G. David Pollick, president of Birmingham-Southern,
in his State of the College Address, August 25, 2006
Our destiny is clear. In the coming years, Birmingham-Southern will fully realize its place among the elite liberal arts colleges in the nation. This is our destiny: to be what we’ve always been, but in greater proportion; to serve as we’ve always served, but in greater numbers. Because our destiny is rooted in our past. It is grounded in more than 150 years of this simple truth—that the proper end of a liberal arts education is the advancement and betterment of the human condition. We prepare men and women to make this world better for all people.
Our destiny is clear. To fulfill our destiny, we must look to the future with confidence, but we must work today in earnest. We must unite our creative talents and deepest resources. It is for us, today, to give the college the means to expand its reach and ensure its mission. We are all called to service, just as our students have been called since the college’s founding. We must collaborate—alumni, students, faculty, parents and friends—to deliver that destiny in which we all believe.
Our destiny is clear. It is up to us to make it a reality.
Our destiny is clear. It falls to each of us to ensure that Birmingham-Southern stands with the greatest liberal arts colleges of our time. It falls to us to champion her causes and her people. It falls to us to deliver the resources and the strength she needs to graduate new generations of men and women who will, in turn, give of themselves and their talents for the betterment of the world.
We have created a book that introduces Destiny: Delivered, The Campaign for Birmingham-Southern and highlights our priorities. You will also find some interesting thoughts from a few of our alumni who are living their lives and changing the world—and what the world thinks of them. A printable PDF version of the book is also available.
So continue reading. But more importantly, join us. Become involved in the Destiny: Delivered campaign.
With your help, all that exists in our mind’s eye will be delivered.