This year, I am breaking my own tradition and setting my first ever New Year’s resolution.

I’m a very goal-oriented person and love challenging myself to conquer new feats, but I’ve never felt the need to associate a specific goal with a calendar year.

This year, that changes.

In 2016, my focus is simple: I want to get to know of all you.

This may seem like a silly goal for a couple of reasons. First of all, there are too many people in this community for me to meet face to face in 365 days. What I mean, though, is that I want to get to know this community at a deeper level.

I want to know what you want to read and how you want to read it. I want to know what you value most about living here, why you chose to live here in the first place and, more importantly, why you chose to stay.

I want to know what we’re doing right, what we could do better and what you wish we would start doing.

I want to get to know southwest Michigan, which may seem redundant considering I’ve lived here my entire life, but I want to gain a better understanding of what makes everything tick.

I want to know you so I know how our products can serve you best.

To get a start on accomplishing this goal, I plan to become more involved in the community.

Growing up, I took advantage of just about every opportunity available on the south side of town. From history club to Science Olympiad, school musicals and choir to cheerleading and French Honors Society, I tried out everything.

Those who knew me when I was younger likely know me as the girl who worked concession stands, ran time clock and sold you tickets to athletic events at Brandywine. You may have seen me selling raffles at various golf outings, fixing light bulbs at Fernwood’s Lights Before Christmas or selling you bushes at Shelton’s Garden Center.

My point is, I’ve always loved to stay busy and meet new people, which is probably why I landed in this profession to begin with. This year, I want to broaden my horizons, branch out into northern Niles, Buchanan and our Cass County communities and really get involved.

I’m currently scoping out opportunities in civic organizations and other volunteer efforts in addition to my efforts at Brandywine. If you have any suggestions for efforts in need of help, I’d love to hear them.

Our newsroom has some big plans to improve our coverage in 2016, and I think getting out and meeting all of you is a great place to start.

 

Ambrosia Neldon is the managing editor at Leader Publications. She can be reached by phone at (269) 687-7713, or by email at ambrosia.neldon@leaderpub.com.