We know that you have been welcomed by a lot of people so far. We also know that you are probably pretty numb to it by now. Regardless, we want to offer our sincere welcome to the pile.
If you’re reading this, you’ve survived at least two days in your new home. What now? Now comes the highly ridiculed, yet highly underrated self-discovery you’ll be entrenched in for the next four years.
To start off, you can learn a great deal about yourself from your reaction to Welcome Week activities. Either you’re the kind of person who said, “A get-together in the Rec center where I get to meet new people? Sign me up!” or “Please, don’t let another stranger touch me.” Some of you may have even tried to manage the apathetic response. That took only a small amount of reflection, but you’re already on the merry road to self-discovery.
Perhaps you’re very happy with your behavior, but if you’re not happy with how you reacted, there’s good news. You have virtually no chance of remaining the same as you are now by the time you graduate.
And this is the point. President Warch made it in his Convocation and it’s so true we’re echoing it here; if you are the same person after four years of education, then Lawrence has failed. If you go through the motions, attend classes, events, etc., but do not truly reflect, then you have failed, regardless of grade point average or honors projects.
You may not realize it now, but graduation will sneak up on you in the blink of an eye. We implore you to use your short time here wisely, not just going through the motions, but truly learning about what you study, where you live, and yourself. If you do this, the student loans won’t seem quite so hefty for what you have received.
Welcome New Lawrentians
