Feature photo by Brooke Ayscue
By Shelby Woodward and Brooke Ayscue
A new school year means new faces, a new schedule and, of course, figuring out what’s going on around campus.
After a summer away, William Peace University is officially back in session and campus has quickly started to feel like itself again. Students are settling into new classes, reconnecting with friends, and getting back into the rhythm of college life.
But before everyone gets completely buried in assignments and exams, Welcome Week gave students plenty of opportunities to take a break, meet new people, and enjoy the start of another year at Peace.
From Music Bingo and Puppy Yoga to Pacer After Dark and student organization events, something was happening around campus all week.
For some students, these events were a chance to catch up with friends they had not seen all summer. For others, including new students, there’s an opportunity to start getting comfortable in a new environment.
“Welcome Week for me was nostalgic in a way,” said Blum, a sophomore majoring in Biology.. “Being able to experience it again with my friends and go to the student organization events feels like I never left for the summer.”
Returning students at Peace, like Blum, are able to experience Welcome Week from a different perspective, reconnecting with friends while also enjoying a new school year.
The first week of college can be overwhelming. New students are learning their way around campus, figuring out their schedules and meeting new people for the first time.
Even returning students have to adjust to a new semester and get back into the routine of balancing classes, activities and everything else college brings.
Welcome week gives students a chance to ease into that transition.
Instead of the first week being completely focused on classes and responsibilities, students had opportunities to step away from their schedules and actually enjoy being on campus.
One of those opportunities was Music Bingo, where students put their music knowledge to the test while spending time with friends and other members of the Peace community.
Events like Music Bingo can turn an ordinary night on campus into an easy way to meet someone new. After all, it is a lot less awkward to introduce yourself when you already have something to talk about.
Puppy yoga offered a completely different kind of experience. Students were able to take time to relax while spending time with puppies, making it a fun break from the usual stress that comes with the beginning of a semester.
“I really enjoyed going to Pacer After Dark and Hot Wings and Hot Seats; those two were my favorite and so much fun,” said Jackson, a first-year student majoring in psychology.
While the bigger events brought students together, Welcome Week was also a chance to introduce students to the many organizations and activities available at Peace.
Student organization events allowed students to see what different groups have to offer and find something that fits their interests.
Whether someone is interested in academics, sports, community service, arts, media, or just looking for a way to meet new people, getting involved can be one of the easiest ways to make the college experience feel smaller and make a college campus feel smaller.
For first-year students, joining an organization can mean finding a group of people who share similar interests. For returning students, it can mean discovering a new activity, taking on a leadership role, or reconnecting with an organization they already enjoy.
“Go to the events and stay involved on campus,” said Jackson.
The beginning of the semester is also when students start thinking about what their year will look like. Some may want to get more involved; some may simply want to make it through their first week without getting lost.
While returning students may feel more familiar with campus, the beginning of the semester can still bring uncertainty for students of all years.
The first few days can be filled with questions: Where is my classroom? Who am I going to sit with? What organization should I join? Where do people actually hang out?
Welcome week does not answer all of those questions, but it gives students a place to start.
And that may be one of the most important parts of the week. College is about more than attending classes and turning in assignments.
Some of the best parts of the experience happen outside the classroom-at an event, in an organization meeting, during a random conversation, or while making a new friend.
For those who spent the week singing along at Music Bingo, relaxing during puppy yoga, participating in the hot wing challenge, or checking out a new organization, Welcome Week was more than just a series of events.
It was the first chapter of a new school year.
Pacers, welcome back.