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Mentor Spotlight: Roy Richter

Drury University > Drury Alumni Connections Program > Mentor Spotlight: Roy Richter

Roy Richter

Court Appellate Judge
Springfield, Missouri
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Creating a Circle

When I graduated from Drury, my best friend’s parents gave me a graduation card – the front said “Remember, it’s not WHAT you know” – and when opened, the card read “It’s WHO you know.” That bit of tongue-in-cheek wisdom is so true. Many doors have been opened for me, and by me for others. Unless you can get in the front door, you may never have the opportunity to prove WHAT you know.

How do you find those folks who can open the door for you? By networking. Drury graduates are leaders in any number of fields, and by meeting and cultivating friendships with a wide variety of people, the odds of finding someone who can “open the door” for you increases exponentially.

Once you get that first job in your chosen field, you must continue to network. Involvement in professional organizations is an excellent method of expanding your circle of friends and acquaintances, and gives you the opportunity to discuss common problems and solutions with those who share your occupation. Career development is enhanced by having the widest circle of friends and acquaintances in your field. If you discover that some other area may better suit your interests and abilities, the more people you know, the better your chances of finding that open door to another career path.