Convocation: Look Forward and Remember

By: Rebecca Nasca
Posted In: News

Wednesday Sept. 10, Salve Regina University celebrated the official opening of the 2008-2009 academic year. I arrived at the Wakehurst lawn around 2:15 p.m., apparently already late for the Junior Class seating.

Students milled about and strained to hear where each department was to sit. I finally found fellow Communications majors and took a seat. A light breeze kicked up the damp smell of trampled grass. Others did not seem to notice as a fast-paced buzz of conversation hummed along.

The class of 2010 was gathered again at the midpoint of our college career. In the opening invocation, Anna Mae Mayer, Director of the Mercy Center for Spiritual Life, described the ceremony as one to “mark the turning of another season of our lives.”

Indeed, the ceremony felt similar to turning the page of a book, welcoming the new freshman and observing the half way point as juniors. The proceedings began by welcoming the class of 2012. Sitting and listening while they read through the mission pledge, it seemed not all that long ago that we juniors were freshmen ourselves.

With all the nostalgia, the speakers, including Newport’s Mayor Stephen C. Waluk, encouraged us to grab hold of the time slipping away from us by “getting involved” and taking advantage of all Salve and Newport has to offer.

Maura O’Tool, a senior nursing major, and Katherine Shaw, a fellow junior and also a nursing major, gave testimonies to the amazing experiences they had by getting involved in World Youth Day 2008, held in Sydney, Australia. O’Tool described her opportunity to see Pope Benedict as similar to a Patriots or Red Sox Championship parade. Shaw remembered her most powerful experience as the Stations of the Cross held in various locations all over the city. Both young women affirmed the life changing experience it was to be one of 300,000 attendees at this event.

The newly inaugurated student body president, Shane Murray, echoed O’Tool and Shaw’s outstanding experiences getting involved by describing his own time on the cross country team. He joked, “being on a team of thirty girls hasn’t been that bad.”

Finally, President Sister Therese Antone offered her comments and advice for students. She encouraged students to “ask for advice.challenge yourself.be determined to make personal discipline one of your achievements. go beyond your comfort zone.and never hesitate to ask a question.”

Convocation provided time for all who attended, juniors and freshman alike, to consider what they would like to do with their year. What ever that may be, follow Sister Antone’s advice to “keep smiling (and) enjoy what you do.”