Thoughts before the Start of Classes

In this Issue:

• Year-by-year thoughts as the new semester is about to begin
• Reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy – message from President Wente
• Occupancy verification email from Residence Life and Housing

Tomorrow is FDOC (First Day of Class). It will be good for everyone to get into the rhythm of a regular routine for the semester.

While we are not getting anywhere near the kind of cold that some parts of the country are, tonight’s low is supposed to be a frigid 14 degrees, and tomorrow is projected to have a low of 21 and a high of 38. Tell your Deacs to bundle up for FDOC!

Year-by-year thoughts as the new semester is about to begin

As we begin the spring semester, our students might be experiencing a variety of emotions and experiences. Today we’ll break those down year by year:

For our P’24s

This is presumably your Deac’s last semester of college. That might hit them hard when they return to campus. They might feel a sense of dread that their dear friends only have a few more months together until everyone spreads out to life after graduation, or they might be super excited to see the finish line of college in their sights and eager to start a job or graduate or professional school.

’24s may feel a strong pull to ‘do all the things they hadn’t done yet’ at Wake – their own personal bucket list, if you will. They may feel increased pressure to find a job or submit grad school applications. They may worry that they are going to disappoint you if they don’t have a job before graduation (reassure them it will be OK!)

We have an Out of the Forest website for the Class of 2024 to help get them ready for life after Wake, and this message went out this afternoon to our seniors. And for P’24s interested in Commencement details, you can see the website here. I anticipate the Commencement team will continue adding information to the website throughout the spring. Students on track to graduate will get an email likely early to mid-March to let them know how to order Commencement tickets.

For our P’25s

Many of our ’25 Deacs are returning from abroad. Coming back to Wake after a semester away can be disorienting, like a culture shock in reverse: the campus looks the same, but everything feels different? Or maybe I am different? For me personally, and other students I’ve talked to about this, when you go abroad, it widens your worldview and you back feeling like you’ve changed. That may manifest as feeling like some things that were previously really important to you as a first year student or sophomore suddenly don’t feel as important anymore.

Deacs returning from abroad may miss some of their favorite places/sights/foods from the country they just left. They may miss having access to museums or historical sights or the ease of going from country to country quickly (at least for those in Europe), specialty foods of the area, etc.

For the ’25s that did not go abroad, they may be excited to see friends and classmates they’d missed during the fall…or maybe a little chagrined that they were not abroad, or feeling anxious about friend groups shifting, particularly if they bonded with other ’25s who were on campus in the fall.

Whether your ’25 went abroad or not, they may feel stressed about finding an internship or a job for the summer – especially if they are hearing from friends who already have one lined up. 

For our P’26s

Our ’26s’ minds might be on upcoming big decisions to be made. Major/minor declaration is February 5-9. Some ’26s may be clear on their major (or minor), but others may still be waffling between majoring in X or Y and are going to try to use their spring semester classes to try and kick the tires to see which major they might like better. Still others may not have a clear idea of what they wanted to major in (my roommate at Wake waited until the literal last minute to declare).

For ’26s hoping to go abroad next year, and their minds might be on getting applications submitted, or trying to decide which program they most want. Others may be trying to form a more solid plan for the next two years re: their major, possibly summer internships, and ultimately finding a career path or grad school. That can feel overwhelming.

For our P’27s

Your Deacs have returned for their second semester, but things may not feel the same as when they left in December. There are some big changes:

Academic: students will have new classes, a new set of professors, and will have to learn their expectations, testing style, etc. It can feel like starting all over again. And if students are trying to get off wait lists or make changes to their classes, that can add a layer of stress.

Social: Some students will go through fraternity or sorority recruitment, and that can cause many emotions (excitement, anxiety, exhilaration, disappointment, etc.). Many of our ’27s will make new friends – whether from new Greek affiliation, new classes, new student organizations. First semester friend groups are likely to fluctuate, and it’s not uncommon for students to worry that they will ‘lose friends’ as group membership shifts.

Friends’ availability also can play out based on new class schedules: our ’27s may find that the people they used to eat lunch or dinner with on certain days now have classes at that time or have other commitments, which can feel unsettling. There is also potential for adjustments in their living spaces as roommates adjust to new schedules.

Emotional: I tell my first-year advisees that January can sometimes feel like quicksand – it can feel unstable, like things are shifting all around you. While that doesn’t feel good in the moment, things will get more stable in the first few weeks of the semester, so hang in there.

For all families

No matter your student’s year, be understanding if your Deac feels a little unsettled. Classes begin tomorrow, and as they get into the swing of their classes and extracurriculars, students will find their groove. And if not, urge your Deac to seek support from the many offices there to help them.

Reflecting on Dr. King’s Legacy – message from President Wente

Dr. Wente sent a message yesterday to students, faculty, and staff, reflecting on Dr. King’s legacy. You can read the full message here. I was particularly struck by this:

“in this moment of global instability, conflict, and our nation’s political strife, institutions of higher education – like Wake Forest – have never been more vital and important. Our academic mission grounds us in the pursuit of new knowledge, and Pro Humanitate calls us ‘to use our knowledge, talents and compassion to better the lives of others.’ Our efforts to do so are critical to both achieving our mission and building (and re-building, always) trust in higher education. 

Next week, I will share several ways the University is continuing to meet our current moment and ensure our Wake Forest community can thrive in the midst of challenges. In particular, we are focused on reinforcing our commitments to free expression, academic freedom, belonging and inclusion. I strongly believe that open dialogue and debate can flourish in a community that also cares for one another. Fostering such an environment is not easy, especially now, but we are Wake Forest – we can do this, if we do it together.”  

Occupancy verification email from Residence Life and Housing

The Office of Residence Life and Housing sent this message to resident students about occupancy verification requirements.