Grab the opportunity

Abstract

I'm not sure how many of you are interested in Greek mythology. Truth be told, in general, I was not a big fan. No reason really, I just never got into it. That is, until I was introduced1 to Kairos. Let me explain.

Kairos (also called Caerus) was the Greek god or personified spirit of opportunity and the youngest of the divine sons of Zeus. The original bronze allegoric statue of Kairos was made by Lysippos2 and stood outside his home in the Agora of Hellenistic Sikyon (Figure 1). Lysippos depicted Kairos as a young man with winged feet, a large lock of hair on the front of his head, and no hair at all in the back. That's right, he's complete bald in the back.

As is clear from the excerpt from the inscription beneath the statue, opportunity is something that you must grab hold of when it arrives, but you will not be able to catch hold of it after it passes.

I will close with one of my favorite quotes about opportunity and a story to go along with it.

“Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.” -Thomas A. Edison

A number of years ago, I was privileged to get involved, at just the right time, with some amazing faculty members from a variety of universities who had a passion and a vision for the future of food science education. It was hard work, but it was so very worth it. Born of those efforts were the Education Division4 (currently Education, Extension, and Outreach Division) and the Journal of Food Science Education5. I encourage you to grab hold of the opportunity to be a part of the future of Food Science Education. Don't let it pass you by.

It has been my great pleasure and honor to serve as the third Scientific Editor of the Journal of Food Science Education from 2014 to 2021, preceeded by two wonderful colleagues and friends – Dr. Wayne Iwaoka, emeritus professor at the University of Hawaii, the inaugural Scientific Editor from 2000 to 2005, followed by Dr. Grady Chism, emeritus professor at the Ohio State University, the second Scientific Editor from 2006 to 2013.