toward

TowardaBrighterFutureforAll

ternoon!Aspresidentoftheuniversity,Iamproudto

hievementisthetriumphofyears

ofhardwork,

theuniversity,wepledgetomakeyoureducationalexperienceas

rewardingandaspossible.

omingyoutotheuniversity,Iamremindedofmyownhigh

schoolgraduationandthephotographmymomtookofmydadandme.

“Ponaturally,”mominstructedus.“wait!”saidDad,“Let’stakea

pictureofmehandinghimanalarmclock.”Theclockwokemeupevery

’sstillonmyofficedesk.

l

missyouroldroutinesandyourparents’reminderstoworkhardand

havecriedtearsofjoytobefinallyfinished

withhighschool,andyourparentsmayhavecriedtearsofjoytobe

finallyfinishedwithdoingyourlaundry!Butknowthis:Thefutureis

builtonastrongfoundationofthepast.

,

youaresurroundedbygreatresources:interestingstudentsfromallover

thecountry,alearnedandcaringfaculty,acomprehensivelibrary,great

sportsfacilities,andstudentorganizationscoveringeverypossible

interest--fromtheartstoscience,

l

learntogetbyonverylittlesleep,meetfascinatingpeople,andpursue

oencourageyoutomakethemostofthisunique

experience,andtouyourenergyandenthusiasmtoreapthebenefitsof

thisopportunity.

feeloverwhelmedbythewealthofthecoursavailable

lnotbeabletoexperiencethemall,butsamplethem

widely!Collegeoffersmanythingstodoandtolearn,andeachofthem

ldgiveyouonlyonepiece

ofadviceaboutlectingcours,itwouldbethis:Challengeyourlf!

Don’tassumethatyouknowinadvancewhatfieldswillinterestyouthe

mecoursinfieldsyou’lnot

onlyemergeasamorebroadlyeducatedperson,butyouwillalsostanda

betterchanceofdiscoveringanunsuspectedpassionthatwillhelpto

rfulexampleofthisisthefashiondesigner,

VeraWang,me,Wangpaired

herstudiesinarthistorywithherloveoffashionandturneditintoa

passionfordesign,whichmadeherafamousdesigneraroundtheworld.

theuniversity,itmaynotalwaysbepleasanttohaveso

dorm,thestudentnextdoor

mayrepeatedlyplaytheonesong,whichgivesyouagiantheadache!You

maybeanearlybirdwhileyourroommateisanightowl!Andstill,you

’tworryifyoubecome

you

promithatvirtuallyallofthemwillprovideyouwithvaluablelessons

,withaglowinyoureyeandasongin

yourheart,stepforwardtomeetthisnewexperiences!

confidencethatyourjourneytowardlf-discoveryand

yourprogresstowardfindingyourownpassionwillyieldmorethan

evethatasyoubecomemembersofour

communityofscholars,youwillsooncometorecognizethatwiththe

abundantopportunitiesoflf-enrichmentprovidedbytheuniversity,

ansaid:“educationissimply

thesoulofasocietyasitpassfromonegenerationtoanother.”Youare

theinheritorsofthehardworkofyourfamiliesandthehardworkof

iltandtransmitted

,it’

knowledgewillyouacquire?Whatpassionswillyoudiscover?Whatwill

youdotobuildastrongandprosperousfutureforthegenerationsthat

willcomeafteryou?

greatpleasureinopeningthedoortothisgreatstepinyour

delightinthemanyopportunitieswhichyouwillfind,

andintheresponsibilitiesthatyouwillcarryascitizensofyour

communities,yourcountry,e!