The Promise of Tomorrow

The future is bright for Tallahassee’s student population and the communities they serve

One of my favorite things about Tallahassee is the collective spirit of innovation and vision of possibility that the students from our local colleges and universities infuse into our community.

These establishments attract tens of thousands of students—individuals who are filled with big dreams and big ideas. They are unwilling to accept the status quo, and that spirit alone creates an inspiring atmosphere that permeates the city and results in opportunities for growth for us all.

Anytime I am invited to connect with these students and institutions, my answer is always yes. I have had the pleasure of participating as a mentor in the Florida State University alumni mentoring program and speaking at FSU, Tallahassee State College, and Florida A&M University, among other opportunities. I leave those experiences learning even more from the students than they, perhaps, learned from me. That is the beautiful gift of reverse mentoring.

Pat MacEnulty, an adjunct professor at FAMU’s School of Journalism & Graphic Communication, reached out to me asking if I would be interested in speaking to her senior-level magazine writing class, specifically to address the business side of our publishing industry. I was already familiar with Pat through not only her impact at FAMU but because she had partnered with our previous editor, Steve Bornhoft, to establish a relationship with our organization. I told her it would be my honor to maintain and grow it.

Upon arriving at FAMU, I was inspired to be in the company of Pat’s young, talented students. I arrived early with four boxes of four of the magazines we publish, including Tallahassee Magazine, and I was able to learn about the students’ backgrounds while we waited for class to start. They all greeted me with kindness and a welcoming spirit of gratitude.

Pat started the class by asking each student to share their proudest accomplishment. The stories varied from being the first member of their family to attend college, to interning at companies such as CNN and Essence Magazine, to being accepting into the University of Colorado Law School. Their accolades and experience are comparable to what most people I went to college with had achieved in their first five years after graduation. Not only that, but they are diverse in their participation in Greek life, community volunteering, and family responsibilities.

I was honored and inspired to spend an afternoon with them. They asked creative questions about the industry and where I believe it is headed. I have no doubt that, given their talents, it has a bright future.

Pat herself is an impressive leader. I shared with the class just how lucky they are to have a professor like her who takes the time to not only teach but create opportunities for her students to have real-life experiences. Pat replied that she is the lucky one.

Since my visit to FAMU, I have become pen pals with a handful of the students. I was impressed with their punctual communication thanking me for my time and finding opportunities to stay connected.

For some of those students, one of those opportunities came as contributors to this issue of Tallahassee Magazine, and I know you will enjoy reading their articles. Beyond the incredible students we were able to partner with, we are thrilled to share some of our favorite places to visit—many of which are just a short drive west: our beautiful Northwest Florida beaches.

I am lucky to spend most of my days along the coast, experiencing the astounding nature and wildlife that this area is known for. And as summer winds down and the rest of the country goes back to school, it is the perfect time to visit. If the beaches and glorious weather aren’t enough, then the curated seasonal events across the region are sure to lure our Tallahassee community for a weekend getaway. Regardless of your draw, I look forward to seeing you on the coast this fall.

Much love,

McKenzie Burleigh,

Publisher