Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

“Before we even started walking, we were screaming our chants. I lost half of my voice before convocation even started,” first-year Eliana Moronta said.

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

Energy was high as students walked to the Brookings Quadrangle with their residential colleges, yelling spirit chants, connecting with other students, and kicking off their first year at convocation on Saturday night, Aug. 23.

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

Convocation is one of the few times in all four years of college that an entire class will ever be together. 

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

“It’s 8,000 undergrads. So that’s crazy,” Moronta said.

First-years walked with their WashU Student Advisors (WUSA) groups to convocation. Sitting with their residential colleges added a sense of familiarity in a crowd of new people.

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

“I sort of felt like I wasn’t alone in [convocation]. It did feel like a true ceremonial college kickoff, even though it wasn’t in itself that incredible or fun of a thing. But it was fun to have my WUSA group there because I felt like I was part of something,” first-year Benji Shoemaker said.

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

Since so much of Bear Beginnings created anticipation for convocation, when Saturday night finally came around, Shoemaker was somewhat disappointed.

“I felt like it was a really cool first-year assembly … and it was fun for what it was. But I think they glorified it a lot beforehand,” he said.

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor

For WUSA and sophomore Orlee Bracha, however, convocation felt like a hopeful way to kick off the semester. 

“[Convocation] reminded me of how much good the first-years have ahead of them and how much they have yet to learn and experience and accomplish,” Bracha said.

Bri Nitsberg | Managing Photo Editor