Brother President, Esteemed Faculty and Staff, Fellow Students, Families, New Transfer Students, and the Graduating Class of 2013,
It is with great pleasure that I welcome you to the La Salle University Family. Congratulations, you are the future.
As your summer is coming to an end, and your college career is now beginning or continuing here at La Salle, I ask you to recall a time in your life when you walked along the beach. Whether that beach was on the East Coast, the West Coast, along a lake in the Midwest, or even a beach in another country, imagine that walk again. With each step you took, you left an imprint in the sand. La Salle University is the next footprint in your path of life. This footprint, whether it is starting a new path or continuing on a previous one, is a large step in the right direction of your future.
Right now you may be feeling a range of emotions; Along with the excitement of beginning your college careers here at La Salle, you may be nervous, anxious, confused maybe even hot and sweaty. Almost everyone around you is experiencing the same range of emotions. Lean on one another for support and motivation. The person sitting next to you might even become a friend for life. College will be the best years of your life. It is up to you to make it happen. Here are just a few pieces of advice that I have for you:
Get involved. With over 120 organizations on campus La Salle has so much to offer. If you enjoy sports, academics, leading, community service, traveling, or even socializing, there is some club or organization for you. La Salle believes that focusing on community is the central means by which learning occurs.
Build Relationships. Attending La Salle, with its smaller class sizes will allow you the opportunity to build relationships with the esteemed faculty and staff. Along with being esteemed, it will be a comfort to you to know how accessible your teachers are and how interested they are in helping you achieve your goals. This university is a place where students and faculty share in a process of exploration. Take time to interact with the Christian Brothers and your professors. The university is built around the Lasallian and Catholic values inspired by the Christian Brothers traditions. Their inspirational and creative teaching blends theory with practice, producing an educational experience with practical application.
Explore your future. La Salle has so many wonderful connections for internships and co-op opportunities. Try one out. Take the time to incorporate what you learn in the classroom with hands on experience. Utilize the career services center by having a mock interview or even getting some resume advice. If you asked me three years ago if I would start my senior year already having accepted an offer from one of the big four accounting firms I would have said no way. But with hard work and guidance from my advisors and faculty as well as my internship experiences, I can safely say in these tough economic times that La Salle has helped secure my future.
With all of these resources available to you, success is still in your hands. Hard work and determination is the framework for being successful. Do what you love and do it with passion. Always remember that you have the support of your family, friends, former teachers, as well as all of us, your new Lasallian family. No matter how large or small your cheering section is, always remember what brought you here. An education, especially a Lasallian education, is the greatest gift and should not be wasted.
So, get involved, build relationships, and explore your future. This advice will help you get started in making your footprints here in the La Salle community.
- Thank You
Stasia Ford
La Salle University
Student Body President, SGA
fords1@lasalle.edu
c- (215) 817-9892