Vol 4 No 10
Happy days and warm welcomes to one and all!
If you are new to Honors – we are so glad to have you! If you’re returning to Honors, we’re glad to
have you back. It’s a new semester and a
new year, and that is always a time for reflection and for new beginnings. We hope everyone has a great 2020 and a
wonderful, successful semester. As we
look to the weeks ahead, we know that the newness will wear off and you’ll be
inundated with work and obligations of all kinds and yet we hope that a small
part of you remembers these early days.
That sense of newness, of hope, of nerves but also excitement. New courses, new faces, new names, new
challenges all sitting in front of you, waiting to become familiar and waiting
to be explored.
We have so many exciting opportunities in regards to Honors
this semester. The Honors dinner, of
course. For new folks, think of this as
an opportunity to get a free meal, some great conversation, and perhaps a new
perspective on the power of Honors. We
also have a series of talks coming that come from the History folks in the
Social Science Department. Then on Laker
Day, we will host the Human Library – an amazing event that lets you ask those
questions you’ve always wanted to ask.
We will also have the Convocation – a poster session and a series of
talks by Honors students. You may be one
of them! The semester culminates in our
graduation and awards ceremony. This isn’t
an exhaustive list, but it gives you an idea of the kinds of things you can
expect this semester.
Most of you know by now that we are in a new place, and I’m
sure that I will be writing about that in the near future in more depth. I just wanted to say that Honors is more than
a place, it’s a feeling. The Owasco
building may not be as cozy as the Honors House, and the lack of bathrooms is
something of a hassle…but it can be just as important and vital if we make it
that way. Honors is the people, Honors
is a feeling, and Honors is more than just what walls are around it. Make that place your own and let us know if
anything is truly lacking.
As for this virtual place, you’ll hear from me quite often
on this blog and in other ways. We have
Facebook and Twitter, Flickr and this blog.
I try to be active in them all, and I’m happy to report that we will have
some guest bloggers – faculty, staff, and even students who are (or have been) involved
in Honors. If you want to write a blog
one week, just let me know and we will work out the details.
And so, there is much to look forward to and many things to
experience as we begin this semester.
Above all, I wish you the very best both in your Honors experience and
beyond. As I told new students at orientation
earlier this month, celebrate your #nerdenergy and be proud of who you
are. Support your fellow students,
reflect on yourself as a learner, and use all the tools you can to make the
world around you a better place.
