Chris Gray, Ph.D.
Founding President, Erie County Community College of Pennsylvania
I'm probably opening myself up to a little scrutiny here, but one of my small bad habits is that I stop at the local McDonald's most mornings on the way to work and pick up an unsweetened iced tea and a large Diet Coke. In fact, people at work make fun of me because I'm almost always carrying around my McDonald's cup.
But this story isn't really about the deliciousness that is McDonald's Diet Coke. It's about belonging.
On this particular morning, I was heading in ahead of schedule because I had an early breakfast meeting. The sun was just beginning to rise as I pulled into the parking lot. I placed my order and waited curbside for it to be delivered.
Because I do this almost every day, I've become sort of a regular with the staff. More importantly, they've become familiar with me. As the first hints of daylight pushed away the darkness, one of the employees walked up to my car with my drinks and simply said, "You're early."
That's it. Two words.
"You're early."
And she was right.
What struck me wasn't the observation itself. What struck me was how good it made me feel; she recognized me. She knew this wasn't my normal routine. Somehow, in the middle of what was probably a busy shift, she noticed that I was operating outside my own usual pattern. In that brief interaction, she communicated something that I think we all desperately want to hear: I see you.
In the grand scheme of things, it probably sounds almost silly to admit that such a small moment mattered to me, but it did. For a second, I felt known. I felt like I belonged. And that got me thinking about community colleges.
Over the years, I've written and spoken frequently about belonging. We've talked about how students need to see themselves reflected in our institutions. We've discussed creating environments where every learner feels welcomed, seen, valued, and supported. We've explored how belonging is not just a feel-good concept but also a critical component of student success.
Yet sometimes we make belonging sound complicated when, maybe, it starts with something much simpler. Maybe belonging is just someone noticing that you're early one day.
At Erie County Community College, I see moments like this every day. Faculty members notice when a student who is usually engaged seems distracted. Advisors recognize when a student misses a class he's never missed before. Staff members remember a student's name, ask about her family, or follow up on a challenge that was mentioned weeks ago. These interactions may seem small in isolation. But together, they create something powerful. They create a place where students feel seen and known.
And when people feel seen, they begin to feel safe.
When they feel safe, they are more willing to take risks. They are more willing to ask questions when they don't understand. They are more willing to admit when they need help. They are more willing to be vulnerable enough to learn.
In many ways, belonging may be the foundation upon which all learning is built.
After all, it's difficult to challenge yourself when you're not sure you fit in. It's difficult to pursue ambitious goals when you feel invisible. It's difficult to ask for help when you feel like nobody would notice if you disappeared. But when you know that people know your name, understand your routines, and care enough to notice when something is different, the world feels a little less intimidating.
You can focus on growing instead of proving that you deserve to be there.
Maybe that's the real secret sauce of community colleges. It's not our buildings, not our programs, not our mission, and not even our technology. It's our people.
It's the faculty member who notices. It's the advisor who remembers. It's the staff member who checks in. It's the culture that says, "We know you. We're glad you're here." Or, in the case of a McDonald's employee on an early morning shift: "You're early." Those two simple words reminded me of a truth I've written about many times before; belonging isn't created through grand gestures. Instead, it's created in small moments when another human being lets you know that you matter. And sometimes, that can make all the difference
Our community. Your college.
