September 09, 2011
The “Class of Hurricane Irene” was enthusiastically welcomed by the
St. John’s University community at the annual New Student
Convocation held August 30 in Carnesecca
Arena. More than 1,600 freshmen moved in to the residence halls
the week before – successfully weathering the storm and eager to
begin their St. John’s experience with their fellow commuter
students.
Derek
Owens, D.A., Vice Provost and Executive Director of the
University’s Writing Center, stressed that the Class of 2015 (and
the College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Professions’ Class of
2017) were joining one of the most diverse student bodies in the
country. “We are so happy you’re here,” he declared, “and we can’t
wait to see what you bring to our fantastic institution,” he
declared.
Also addressing students,
Rev. James J. Maher, C.M., Executive Vice President for Mission
and Student Services, noted that St. John’s alumni often tell him
two things: how much they miss the St. John’s experience and how
well it prepared them for the next phase of their lives.
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Fr. Maher encouraged students to discover their passion and direct
that passion both academically and through service. He pointed to
orientation leaders as role models for the incoming class. “Our
students get involved on campus,” he said. “They don’t wait for
opportunities to come to them. They seize them. They become
leaders. You must choose to come to the table of opportunity and
take advantage.”
The most successful St. John’s students live the University’s Vincentian
Mission, Fr. Maher added, with 85 percent of students engaging
in some form of service. “They reach out globally and locally to
the hungry, homeless, children and families living in need. They
have discovered the great Vincentian truth that when we discover
our passion and serve those in need we get a gift of satisfaction
we never lose.”
Julia Upton, RSM, Ph.D., Provost of St. John’s University, told
students they are here to test their hypotheses about life.
“Although you may classify yourselves as undecided, you will gain
more clarity about yourself and where you’re headed during your
years here. You will take courses and meet professors, some of whom
will be your mentors for life.”
She encouraged students to rely on the strong faculty support their
peers enjoy, and to make use of the excellent academic facilities
designed to ensure their success, such as the Freshman
Center, the Writing
Center and the University
libraries with their state of the art IT infrastructure.
The assembly also heard encouraging words from a pair of student
speakers who related how their St. John’s experience changed the
course of their lives. Juniors Kevin Grover ‘13TCB and Victoria
Serbes ’13CPS shared the podium as they each discussed the impact
being at St. John’s has had on them.
Victoria told students that she was a bit reluctant on her first
Midnight Run to feed New York City’s homeless. “I stood there in
the rain handing out soup and coffee…and a homeless woman
encouraged me to get in the van,” she said. “I was stunned. Even
though she would be sleeping on the street that night and could be
wet for days, she took the time to offer me compassion and
comfort.”
She stressed that being at St. John’s offers students many such
opportunities to find God. “In all the programs God is present and
inviting you to open your hearts and minds.”
Concluding the presentation,
Rev. Donald J. Harrington, C.M., President of St. Johns, posed
a simple question to students. “Will you seize the opportunities to
be the best you can be during these years?” He stressed that the
next four years were critical. “These years will make the
difference. You have the opportunity of learning from and working
with a strong and dedicated faculty who care about each and every
one of you.”
Fr. Harrington encouraged students to work closely with
upperclassmen. “We have wonderful students,” he observed, and
issued a special challenge to students that they should aspire to
join
the President’s Society, the highest honor a St. John’s student
can receive.
Students left the Convocation energized to begin the next phase of
their lives. Jamaan Mills ’15CPS, a Communications major said, “I
am so happy I came to St. John’s. It is such a proactive place.
Right from the outset, I knew that service was going to be an
important part of my education.”
Amanda Coppola ‘15CPS, also a Communications major, observed that
this was one of only two times the Class of 2015 would gather
together as a whole. “It was crazy to think that the next time
I will be with my class again is at graduation. It made me really
think about the next four years!”