Get Herald RSSIt's been a hectic few days for first-years. You've been shuttled to lectures on sexual assault and drunkenness, introduced to roommates and residential counselors and unpacked your entire life into one tiny dorm room.
But what President Simmons, Dean Bergeron and your parents have told you is true: Brown will change you. No matter how frantic the flurry of settling down and beginning a new phase of life, don't lose sight of the opportunities that are now yours as a Brown student.
It sounds trite, but regardless of what U.S. News and World Report might say, a Brown education is indeed a powerful asset. Though you'll all traverse College Hill and eat in the Ratty, each of you must decide for yourself: How will you be changed?
All the cliches you've heard are true - college is really what you make of it, and you'll learn as much outside the classroom as within it. So be ambitious, whether that means starting a rock band or working on a local political campaign. These are important, if not essential, parts of the proverbial "college experience."
Join clubs. In fact, at Thursday's Activities Fair don't be afraid of signing up for too many of the overly specialized, niche groups you've never been exposed to (after stopping by The Herald's table, of course).
Be diligent and persistent during shopping period. Even if a class appears to be full on the Banner Web site or demands "pre-requisites," keep in mind that at Brown academic interest always trumps official rules. Tackle material you've never seen, like Egyptology or Japanese court poetry, because being Boldly Brown is about taking risks. This is a chance to push your boundaries while you still have the comfort of Brown's safe, nurturing bubble - an environment that distinguishes these college years from the rest of your life.
Of course, with the privilege of a Brown education comes a responsibility to still engage with the world around you. Taking part in community service or aspiring to a career in public service are obvious ways to do this, but they're by no means the only ones. Forcing yourself to pop that Brown bubble on occasion will serve you, and this community, well. Whether it means stopping by an art exhibit on the trek back from Bed Bath & Beyond or tutoring local adults in literacy, engage - and do so critically.
Your four years at Brown could lead to a future of working micro-finance in Tanzania or biking across Bangladesh. You may write screenplays, teach history or trade debt securities. But the analytical and critical thinking skills you'll gain here really will be the greatest benefit in any profession, relationship or future pursuit.
When you go home for Thanksgiving and, well, for the rest of your life, people will ask how often you went to naked parties and if professors even give grades at Brown. It may be annoying, but think of it as an advantage. You're getting the best of both worlds: a top-rate education at a famously unique university. There's no chance you'll come out the same.
