Thursday Thoughts

In this Issue:

• Howler Senior Portraits
• Program for Seniors/Class of ’26: Talking About Transition
• Spring Break Safety – good things to know before you go

I was on campus at 5:45 a.m. heading to the gym and saw a couple of members of our ROTC No Fear Battalion doing a march with a full pack on their shoulders, in the pouring rain no less. Nothing but respect for those cadets!

We will jump right into our content today, as today is a wildly busy day on my calendar :)

Howler Senior Portraits

The Howler is our Wake Forest yearbook. It is a student-run publication. Several P’26 families had asked if there were still opportunities for their seniors to get their picture taken for the yearbook. I went back to The Howler team with that question, and here is what they told me:

“We have opened afinal round of senior portrait appointments from March 30-April 3. You can view availability and book here.”

So if this is important to your senior, encourage them to jump on this opportunity.

Program for Seniors/Class of ’26: Talking About Transition

Some of my colleagues who work with our “Out of the Forest” program (for seniors during their final year on campus) wanted to be sure seniors are aware of this upcoming opportunity:

“Talking About Transition (March 3, 6:30-8 p.m.): Seniors are invited to join the Alumni Personal & Career Development Center and the Office of Alumni Engagement for a small group dinner with local alumni to talk about the transition from student to young professional, finding your people after college, first jobs, graduate school, and more. Registration closes this Friday at 5 pm and space is limited!”

Spring Break Safety – good things to know before you go

If your student is traveling anywhere – whether that is going home or going to some fun destination – there are some wise practices they should know/do before they leave campus. There are also some additional considerations for students traveling internationally.

For all students who will be traveling

• Let a family member/loved one know your travel plans, including the name and location of your hotel/where you are staying, and your dates for arrival and departure.
• Do not advertise your plans to be out of town on social media.
• If you are driving, be sure to have your car checked/serviced prior to a long trip.
• Take only one credit card and your debit card. Keep them on you at all times. Leave jewelry or other valuables at home.
• Make copies of your credit cards in case they are lost. Include the phone number to call and cancel the cards if needed.
• Carry your cell phone at all times and be sure it is fully charged.
• Lock the doors to wherever you are staying and do not open your door to anyone you do not know. If the person states they work for the hotel, call the front desk and confirm this before allowing them entry. You can find additional door lock options for hotel rooms on places like Amazon.com or your purveyor of choice.
• Use a hotel safe or in-room safe for valuables.
• Use the buddy system at your destination – don’t leave any friends behind, and don’t walk alone at night.
• Always have enough money on your person to get back to your hotel/where you are staying.
• Do not accept food or drinks from strangers. Even if you meet people who seem friendly, they may not have the best intentions. Never provide strangers with your hotel name/street address of where you are staying.
• Be aware of your surroundings. If you feel like something is amiss, trust your instincts. If you think you are being followed, walk into a store, restaurant, business or other safe place and ask for help.
• If you choose to drink alcohol, make sure you get drinks directly from a bartender or person you know and trust. Never leave your drink unattended.
• Remember your medications (and sunscreen if you are going to a beach or warm area).
• Use caution in snapping QR codes; some people are adding spam code over legitimate codes.

Special considerations for students traveling internationally for Spring Break

• Review current guidance from the U.S. Department of State prior to departure. The Department issues travel advisories for every country using a four-level system that ranges from Exercise Normal Precautions (Level 1) to Do Not Travel (Level 4) based on safety, security, health, and geopolitical conditions. Additional tips:
  • Review country-specific advisories and security messages before and during travel
  • Enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program (STEP) to receive alerts and make it easier to be contacted in an emergency
  • Share travel itineraries with family or trusted contacts
  • Maintain heightened situational awareness, particularly in unfamiliar areas
  • International conditions can change quickly. Students are encouraged to prioritize personal safety and make informed decisions when planning travel.
• Review laws to the country(ies) to which you are traveling, as their laws could be more strict. This can include restrictions on the medications that are allowed to enter the country.
• Make two copies of your passport in case it is lost. Include the phone number to call to report lost passports. Leave one copy with a family member or trusted friend not traveling with you.
• Leave important valuables and documents (especially your passport) in your room safe/hotel safe deposit box, not in your room.
• Arrive in a new country with a small amount of cash in the local currency. You do not want to stand out in a crowd trying to get change for a large bill.
• Contact your cell provider in advance to get foreign country coverage; roaming charges for service can be VERY expensive.
• Only use established taxis or ride services. Some countries allow anyone to act as a taxi with a sign. Ask how much it will cost to take you to your destination and settle on the price before getting in the car.
• Do not allow anyone to take you to an unknown destination.
• Find out how you contact police, hospitals, and make phone calls once you arrive in another country.
• Remember not all countries have safety requirements or inspections for things such as Zip Lines and Parasailing.

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It’s almost the end of the week, Daily Deacdom. Finish strong!