From the Editor
Will Yang
Issue date: 9/20/05 Section: Editor
- Page 1 of 1
Though already entrenched in life back on campus, including classes, weekend culture, and friends, I can still recall how I felt in August before coming back. I felt dread.
I was excited to be returning to school, but saddened and mildly scared at the prospect of beginning my final year of college. Between thoughts of putting out the Tripod, studying for classes, and making it to the weekend, I've been constantly searching for ways to prolong what has been a thoroughly enjoyable journey.
When I see freshmen strolling about campus, I feel a certain disdain which can only originate from my own jealousy over the fact that they will be here for four more years. I would trade the insecurity and novelty of being a freshman with the comfort and impending finality associated with being an upperclassman any day, besides a Thursday or Saturday.
Freshman housing integration might help the first-years become more accustomed to living on a college campus and foster a more intellectual environment, or it might inhibit freshman-class bonding so central to the ability for first-years to identify with other students.
The latter possiblity will only occur if we, as upperclassmen, refuse to open ourselves to the freshmen and broaden their understandings whether academic, spiritual, or practical.
What do they have to offer us in return? They give us the chance to remember what being a first-year student is like. Trinity has a way of enveloping its students in a collective mindset of apathy, and sometimes, unfriendliness. At the risk of sounding overly critical, I've seen a general shift towards smugness among my classmates over the years. I admit, it's easy to begin to take the people around you for granted.
Our freshmen can return the favor by keeping us from becoming jaded, and close-minded by reminding us exactly how we used to be.
The weekend before last, I witnessed the power of goodwill towards others when I was among the 400-plus students who participated in Do It Day. Later in the week, I saw people selflessly table for the Red Cross and Katrina Victims. I felt pride in learning that our school had enrolled Tulane students, victims of circumstance.
Our sense of well-being that comes from helping others does not have to end anytime soon. A simple smile to an otherwise hapless first-year will do.
I was excited to be returning to school, but saddened and mildly scared at the prospect of beginning my final year of college. Between thoughts of putting out the Tripod, studying for classes, and making it to the weekend, I've been constantly searching for ways to prolong what has been a thoroughly enjoyable journey.
When I see freshmen strolling about campus, I feel a certain disdain which can only originate from my own jealousy over the fact that they will be here for four more years. I would trade the insecurity and novelty of being a freshman with the comfort and impending finality associated with being an upperclassman any day, besides a Thursday or Saturday.
Freshman housing integration might help the first-years become more accustomed to living on a college campus and foster a more intellectual environment, or it might inhibit freshman-class bonding so central to the ability for first-years to identify with other students.
The latter possiblity will only occur if we, as upperclassmen, refuse to open ourselves to the freshmen and broaden their understandings whether academic, spiritual, or practical.
What do they have to offer us in return? They give us the chance to remember what being a first-year student is like. Trinity has a way of enveloping its students in a collective mindset of apathy, and sometimes, unfriendliness. At the risk of sounding overly critical, I've seen a general shift towards smugness among my classmates over the years. I admit, it's easy to begin to take the people around you for granted.
Our freshmen can return the favor by keeping us from becoming jaded, and close-minded by reminding us exactly how we used to be.
The weekend before last, I witnessed the power of goodwill towards others when I was among the 400-plus students who participated in Do It Day. Later in the week, I saw people selflessly table for the Red Cross and Katrina Victims. I felt pride in learning that our school had enrolled Tulane students, victims of circumstance.
Our sense of well-being that comes from helping others does not have to end anytime soon. A simple smile to an otherwise hapless first-year will do.
