Alyssa GregoryIn less than a month, you will be arriving at “Washington University in St. Louis.” Once you get here, most likely you will rarely refer to your alma mater by her full name, with the possible exceptions of family gatherings and travel to and from campus.
“Where do you go to school?”
“Oh, it’s not in Washington? Then, it’s in Washington, DC.”
During your four years here, I’m sure you will call the institution by many different names. However, my hope for you is that it quickly becomes your home and you come to view yourselves as critical members of the WU community. And the sooner, the better.
We need you to bring your personalities, experiences, backgrounds, interests, areas of expertise with you when you come in August. Each of you has a role in shaping the community and making it your own, while at the same time, contributing to the larger good. You are entering the university as a unique individual who has distinguished yourself among your peers while in high school or at another college or university.
Take the time during your first year to find your niche – in the classroom, the lab, a residential college, through community service and volunteer opportunities, within the Greek community, through any number of student organizations, in sports – recreational, intramural, or varsity. The opportunities are almost endless, but they also can appear overwhelming upon arrival.
We want to make your transition to WU as easy and seamless as possible. I strongly encourage you to take advantage of every program offered during Orientation. Some of you will be attending a pre-orientation program and will have a chance to meet some of your classmates at this time. For most, your first formal activity will be Convocation, where you as the Class of 2006 and your family members will get a sense of our intense focus on learning and the academic experience. Speakers will include the Chancellor, students, a faculty member, and a parent among others, plus some additional highlights that will be revealed to you that evening.
After the Orientation Program, you should have a good sense of community expectations and norms and your rights and responsibilities. From there, you will begin the adventure of buying the correct books; finding your way around campus and learning that more than one building may have the same or similar name; deciding upon where you want to study, eat, socialize, exercise; learning different faculty members’ expectations and course requirements; and making this place comfortable for you.
Three events you may want to check out include the following:
After the first week of classes, student groups will be sponsoring First Friday on August 30. It’s an event that offers a wide variety of entertainment and activities.
The following day, August 31, is Service First where all new students are invited to participate in a community service project that takes place in the St. Louis public schools. This is an opportunity to get to know members of your class, see what lies beyond our borders, and provide a helping hand to schools in your new community.
Also, visit the Activities Fair on September 4 in the Quad. Over 120 student groups typically register, and all will be recruiting you. Check it out, ask questions, and sign up for a group or two that sounds interesting.
Here at WU, students and student groups sponsor many events that contribute to the educational, cultural and social environment of the campus. Don’t let being “new” stop you. get invol-ved.