The Class of 2030 got a taste of Emerson history, its undergraduate offerings, and even some life advice on Thursday, August 27, as they gathered in the Cutler Majestic Theatre for fall Convocation. The event for first-year and transfer students kicked off with a spirited performance from Grooversity, the drum corps that also sends graduating seniors out into the world at Commencement each year.
Nearly every seat was filled as hundreds of new Emersonians, faculty, and staff listened to speeches from President Jay Bernhardt, Vice President of Student Affairs Christie Anglade, Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Alexandra Socarides, and other College leaders including several deans and students.
“?Communication arts and media aren’t simply programs we offer, they’re who we are at our very core. And it’s that’s the focus that attracts students like you who want something distinctive, different, uncommon, where you can express your diverse interests and voices,” said Bernhardt. “?You arrive today with unique backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, ready to start your next chapter.”
Each of the program’s speakers dispensed wisdom about what they learned as college students, what they wished they had known back then, and their best advice for new students as they embark on their Emerson journey. Here are 10 tips from some of the day’s presenters.
You shouldn’t have it all figured out yet.
“Some of you may already be wondering whether everyone else here is even more talented than you, or more confident, or has their life more figured out…by the way, they don’t. ?So here’s something that I want you to know in your first week at Emerson: you don’t have to have it all figured out. In fact, you shouldn’t have it all figured out. That’s exactly why you’re here, and it’s exactly why we’re all here: to help you figure it out.” — President Jay Bernhardt
Choose to be kind.
“You can ask a question before making an assumption. You can have a conversation rather than talking to everybody other than that person. You can refuse to participate when a rumor starts making its way around campus. You can decide that someone’s embarrassing moment doesn’t need a bigger audience.” — Vice President of Student Affairs Christie Anglade
Embrace your own ideas.
“This is a place for teachers who teach differently, and students who learn differently. Where you’re going to make things from day one, and where you’re going to be engaging each other in the kind of problem solving that will set you up for a rewarding future and that will help build a better world.” — Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs Alexandra Socarides
Rough drafts are necessary for good work.
“In the years ahead, you’ll make things that don’t already exist. You’ll write something, you’ll delete it, and then you’ll write again. You’ll rehearse over and over until you finally find that moment. You’ll make films, build campaigns, report stories, perform, argue about things big and small. Things you didn’t know that you were good at, you’ll discover, ‘Wow, I’m actually good at this.’” — President Jay Bernhardt
Embracing awkwardness can be rewarding.
“College can be so awkward….walking into an organization meeting alone is awkward, having a conversation with someone who seems completely different than you can be awkward… creating something and letting other people see it is awkward…so many of those experiences that will matter to you the most begin with a moment of awkwardness. So do it anyway. Don’t let your fear of looking awkward keep you from having an extraordinary experience.” — Vice President of Student Affairs Christie Anglade
Be curious, be brave, be generous.
“In the years ahead, I challenge every one of you to seize the opportunity to do these three specific things…be curious enough to try something that you didn’t come here intending to do, be brave enough to try something that you might fail at, and be generous enough to help someone else bring their ideas to life.” — President Jay Bernhardt
Good choices add up over time.
“…A legacy isn’t created in one extraordinary moment. It’s built through thousands, maybe millions, of choices. How you show up, how you respond when things don’t go your way, how you treat people, whether you take the risk, whether you get back up, whether you make room for someone else.” — Vice President of Student Affairs Christie Anglade
Enjoy the moment.
“?It may be hard to believe right now, but the next four years are going to fly by. Less than four years from now, the Class of 2030 will gather again. You’ll sit together at commencement, and you’ll each be a different person from the one you are today. But don’t rush to become that person you think that you’re supposed to be. Use your time at Emerson to discover the person you can be.” — President Jay Bernhardt
Remember to call home.
“This morning, I met with your parents and families and I promised them I would tell you this: Please don’t ghost them. Answer a text occasionally, call them back…because the people who know you best can sometimes remind you who you are.” — Vice President of Student Affairs Christie Anglade
Experiencing new challenges means you’re growing.
“Being new is hard, change is hard. So I anticipate a lot of fun and also some challenges and tears. And when you have those moments, please know that I am in 1310 Ansin, and I’m probably having the same moment. So please come join me in joy or despair at any time in your four years.” — Dean of the School of Arts and Interdisciplinary Studies Amy Cook (who started her job in July)