Program for first-year students engages them in campus values as they join the academic community
I believe we create our own futures…
I believe in trying something new…
I believe everything happens for a reason…
It’s common for incoming college students to participate in a first-year book project as an introduction to academic life. ½ûÂþÌìÌà took a fresh approach this year in hopes of engaging new students in campus values with This We Believe—½ûÂþÌìÌÃ.
The results were essays that capture the Class of 2019’s thoughts, dreams, hopes, and concerns as they begin this new stage of life.
Modeled on National Public Radio’s , the program asked students to read selections from the This I Believe website, compose a 500-word essay about their own beliefs, then share it on the .
Hundreds of first-year students posted essays about a variety of topics, from tolerance and the power of education to yoga, baseball, and boxing.
I believe in joy...
I believe in the power of struggle…
I believe in smiles…
Three members of the Class of 2019 were asked to read their essays at this year’s Convocation ceremony, the official beginning of the new academic year:
- Biology major Andrea Bickford wrote " which described her special relationship with her autistic sister.
- Mary Brown, who is majoring in nursing, shared : "I believe that without the presence of teamwork, many successes would not be achieved."
- " was business major Tiana Golding's theme: "realizing the importance of self-empowerment, self-reliance, and self-love."
Created by the departments of Academic Affairs and Student Affairs, This We Believe—½ûÂþÌìÌà also encouraged faculty and staff to submit essays.
"We believed that the campus culture would be enriched if the ½ûÂþÌìÌà community participated in this project," said Cynthia Cummings, Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs. "Our goal was to tie these postings into ½ûÂþÌìÌÃ’s values of community, diversity, collaboration, tolerance, education, civic engagement, and more."
I believe in keeping an open mind...
I believe in everyone’s right to experience and embrace change...
I believe in pursuing truth...