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Student Government President Ashley Juavinett ’11 (Blackwood, N.J.), a neuroscience major, welcomed the Class of 2013 today at the Convocation opening Lafayette’s 178th academic year.
Good morning, faculty, staff, and the newest members of Lafayette College, the Class of 2013.
I’m honored to be one of the people speaking to you today. Looking back on my orientation, I realize that this is a time filled with the voices of many people who are welcoming you into this new chapter of your life. I remember the voices of my parents instructing me to study hard and use all of my meals, the voice of my orientation leader asking me to find my place in an enormous birthday circle, and the voice at the microphone telling me that the person I marry might be sitting just a few rows over. This whirlwind of guidance and advice can be a bit overwhelming, but I can assure you that life at Lafayette is a little less frenzied than orientation weekend.
Depending on your personal experiences and ambitions, you probably have some idea of what college will be like and where you’ll fit in. But, the truth is, you’re probably way off. Before coming to Lafayette, I couldn’t have guessed that I’d be president of Student Government or musical director of an a cappella group or volunteer in the local jail. In fact, I wasn’t involved in my high school student government, I had never performed in a singing group, and I would not have dreamed of being behind bars. Likewise, I knew that I liked science and was interested in research, but I couldn’t have predicted that I’d be doing that research in a place as far away from home as Louisiana just one summer before doing social work at a place even farther away, California.
Like you, I came to Lafayette with a general concept of who I was and what I wanted, and, just two years later, I realized I really had no idea. That’s the beauty of being in college. Your experience here at Lafayette is not dependent on where you’ve been or who you were in high school. It is dependent on how in tune you are with your goals and how you let this insight inform your decisions. Lafayette is going to present an array of academic, social, and extracurricular opportunities, but it’s entirely up to you to take the next step. And another great thing about college: You can take as many steps as you want.
It takes audacity to be a college student and pursue your passions. One of my favorite quotes, “Fortune favors the bold,” holds very true here at Lafayette. Sign up for every organization that sounds just a bit interesting and make friends with people who, at first, you don’t find interesting at all. Take the classes that ignite your desire to learn. And enjoy the weekends that distract you between studying. But, whatever you do, do it with a passion that is true to what makes you happy. If you do that, you are guaranteed success.
While there’s a lot that you can gain from your time here at Lafayette, you also have the ability to give so much back. Each one of you brings different sets of knowledge, personality, and experience to the table, and it is this diversity that makes Lafayette an amazing place to be. But, even with your differences, you have one important thing in common: As college students, you are in the top two percent of the most educated people in the world. You have a remarkable and unusual opportunity to learn, grow, and make a difference. Take the time to realize your strengths and use them to help those around you. Most important, don’t forget that you define Lafayette. The contributions you make while you are here will impact Lafayette for years to come. So don’t waste a second. Even if you don’t know what those contributions are yet, just follow your intuition, and the details will take care of themselves.
So there you have it, about 12 more pieces of advice to add to your already growing list. But, although the cascade of wisdom and insight during this weekend is very valuable, it is your voice and your drive that will define your college experience. Listen to yourself, take risks, make mistakes, but, most of all, enjoy the ride. Welcome to Lafayette.