On behalf of the student body, it is my honor and privilege to welcome you to Saint Louis University.
As I sat down to write this, I tried to recall the emotions and feeling that I went through four short years ago. For me, the emotions that are most clear are fear, anxiety and excitement. I feared because I did not know. I was in a strange new city, meeting new people, and constantly confronted by the question I am sure all of you have heard at least once: “So what are you going to do with the rest of your life?” The only people I knew here were my parents, and they were leaving in a few hours, and I had to embark on my new life. I was afraid. And I am sure some of you are afraid. Maybe you’re afraid of your major, or your roommate, or perhaps you are in the same circumstances I was in-you just don’t know if you can really be separated from the only friends you’ve ever known, in a city far away from home. It is OK to be afraid. Just don’t let the fear cripple your ability to experience new things, to enjoy all the wonderful programs that Welcome Week entails.
Or maybe you’re not afraid. Maybe you can’t wait for your parents to drive away and face this new independence. Perhaps you are so filled with excitement that you can’t possibly wait for the next activity or program, to meet your floor mates, or explore every area of campus. Harness this excitement and let it carry you through Welcome Week and throughout your four years of college.
Beyond these initial emotions, you have expectations. You have chosen Saint Louis University because of its rich Jesuit history. It is the goal of this Jesuit education to create “Men and Women for Others” and to educate the whole person-not just academically, but spiritually, emotionally, physically, and with a social conscious. Here at Saint Louis University, it is our hope that you will fully participate within this tradition, to strive for social justice and to actively seek out change within this world. Don’t simply be educated within the classroom. Instead, take advantage of the many resources that this campus provides, and challenge yourselves to be “Men and Women for Others.” Let yourself be educated through the arts, within the community service and social justice programs, and through the competition on the intramural field. Don’t let an opportunity be lost.
So now you’ve begun your journey. But what will you need on this excursion? As an RA, I used to tell my residents that succeeding in college came down to one simple thing: balance. With balance, one will be able to relish his or her time here at SLU. For the student who spends all day in class and studying all night will be so burned out in six weeks, they are a high risk of leaving the University because they do not feel as if they are a part of the University community. Similarly the student on the other end of the spectrum that is out partying every night of the week and never studies is also at a very high risk of not being at the university in six weeks.
Instead, college is about balance. It is about realizing the importance and making the most of your educational experiences. But college is also learning outside the classroom, meeting life-long friends, perhaps meeting the love of your life, making great memories, and challenging yourself and your beliefs to become a better person. Trust me, the next four years will go by in the blink of an eye, so please make the most of each day.
Within this theme of balance, let me simply ask you to find a student organization with which you can get involved. There are more than 80 student organizations here at Saint Louis University and I promise you that something will appeal to you. Whether it is community service and social justice clubs, student government, a fraternity or sorority, or countless others, find a student organization within which you feel connected to the University community.
When I first came to SLU, I was afraid that I had made the wrong choice. But let me dash this thought if you are feeling this way. Saint Louis University has been my home and family for the last four years. I wouldn’t trade the experiences that I have had here for anything else in the world. I have loved my time at SLU, and can honestly say that these four years have been the best four years of my life.
Good luck to you and your endeavors over the next four years. I wish to all of you the same joy and love that I feel for this institution. God Bless, and welcome to Saint Louis University.
Mike Cappel is a political science major in his fifth year. He is the president of the Student Government Association.
