Freshman class provides a breath of fresh air
Charlie Specht
Issue date: 9/7/07 Section: Opinion
- Page 1 of 1
Each year, a few hundred high school seniors apply to St. Bonaventure University, get accepted and commit to spending the next four years of their lives in Allegany, N.Y.
To the upperclassmen, these people are referred to as "freshies," smirk included. Na've attitudes, pencil necks and thin facial hair are said to be invading the campus. Many older students, fresh with the new maturity of another three summer months, often overlook these new St. Bonaventure students on their way to their classes, internships or jobs.
But these new students, these lettermen and prom queens of a few months ago, bring the campus an often over-looked combination of enthusiasm and energy that gives the campus new life each fall.
As a sophomore resident assistant within the First Year Experience (FYE) program, I have the unique position of leading and mentoring students, most of whom are currently in a position I am not far removed from. During the first week, I was quick to notice all the awkward conversation, anxious half-smiles and (yes, believe it) quiet Thursday nights.
As time passed, though, and my residents tried to master the daily routines of class, laundry and social life, I saw this nervous anxiousness turn into unabashed enthusiasm. In the morning, as I passed a few freshmen on my way to class, I realized I was actually happy to see a few more faces walking through the halls of Plassmann, Robinson and Falconio. As I entered the now crowded (thanks, enrollment) Hickey Dining Hall, I saw pure vibrancy.
Quite simply, these freshmen had given this university a new life. As the second week passed, I returned to my residence hall one night to find seven or eight of my residents gathered outside my door, laughing and joking like true Bonaventure men.
Now, when I return to my room from a long night at The Bona Venture, run up from the rugby field or have a conversation with Father Dan Riley, O.F.M., about Mt. Irenaeus, I am happily joined by, believe it or not, freshmen.
The truth is, Bonaventure, whether we like to admit it or not, we enjoy these new faces. If not only to battle redundancy, we need them. And as a group of Bonaventure men and women who have walked in their footsteps before, we welcome the Class of 2011 to the Bonaventure Family.
e-mail: spechtcj@sbu.edu
To the upperclassmen, these people are referred to as "freshies," smirk included. Na've attitudes, pencil necks and thin facial hair are said to be invading the campus. Many older students, fresh with the new maturity of another three summer months, often overlook these new St. Bonaventure students on their way to their classes, internships or jobs.
But these new students, these lettermen and prom queens of a few months ago, bring the campus an often over-looked combination of enthusiasm and energy that gives the campus new life each fall.
As a sophomore resident assistant within the First Year Experience (FYE) program, I have the unique position of leading and mentoring students, most of whom are currently in a position I am not far removed from. During the first week, I was quick to notice all the awkward conversation, anxious half-smiles and (yes, believe it) quiet Thursday nights.
As time passed, though, and my residents tried to master the daily routines of class, laundry and social life, I saw this nervous anxiousness turn into unabashed enthusiasm. In the morning, as I passed a few freshmen on my way to class, I realized I was actually happy to see a few more faces walking through the halls of Plassmann, Robinson and Falconio. As I entered the now crowded (thanks, enrollment) Hickey Dining Hall, I saw pure vibrancy.
Quite simply, these freshmen had given this university a new life. As the second week passed, I returned to my residence hall one night to find seven or eight of my residents gathered outside my door, laughing and joking like true Bonaventure men.
Now, when I return to my room from a long night at The Bona Venture, run up from the rugby field or have a conversation with Father Dan Riley, O.F.M., about Mt. Irenaeus, I am happily joined by, believe it or not, freshmen.
The truth is, Bonaventure, whether we like to admit it or not, we enjoy these new faces. If not only to battle redundancy, we need them. And as a group of Bonaventure men and women who have walked in their footsteps before, we welcome the Class of 2011 to the Bonaventure Family.
e-mail: spechtcj@sbu.edu
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