Welcome to Carthage!

Lauren Hansen, '10, president of Student Government at Carthage, gave the following speech at the New Student Convocation on Sept. 6, 2009.

Thank you for giving me the opportunity to speak with you all on this exciting day!

Standing here today and seeing all of you reminds me of a freshman I knew when I first came to Carthage three years ago. She walked into my orientation group late, eyes red and puffy from crying. She told me that she didn't want to leave her family and friends and was nervous about living with a roommate. She was worried about starting college classes and finding the right buildings. Wide-awake in her bed late that first night, she wondered what the next four years would bring.

Some of you may be feeling the same way she did or may feel that way in the days to come. But let me tell you, Class of 2013, you have nothing to worry about. You have chosen the best college in the entire world. OK, so I may be a bit biased because I have never actually attended another college, but I'm still pretty confident in my proclamation. Today, you have entered the Carthage Community, a community like none other. Just like the new mission statement says, this Carthage Community seeks truth, builds strength and inspires service—together.

I think that last part — together — is the most important part of Carthage. Although you are moving in to a new place with people you have never met, you are not alone. There is an entire new class of freshmen sitting all around you that likely feels the exact same way you do. They're wondering, "Will I make new friends? How will I know where my classes are? Will I get along with my roommate?"

The best part about being a freshman is that you have an entirely new slate, and so does everyone else. I met some of my best friends in the first weeks of college. So do not be afraid to leave your residence hall. Take your roommate and wander into rooms with open doors. Introduce yourself. Ask people on your floor to play volleyball. Play catch in the courtyard. Go to your orientation events and talk to the people there. Get to know other freshmen because you will bond as a class.

As you start to get acquainted with college life this week, you will inevitably begin your first college classes. Don't miss out on the academic side of college. Make sure to go to class. And don't worry about finding the right building or the right classroom, because you can ask anyone walking by you for directions. You will soon find that Carthage students, faculty and staff are some of the nicest around. People hold doors for one another all of the time and say hi to people they may not even know as they walk down Campus Drive.

When in class, stay engaged and active. Contribute to class discussions and build relationships with your professors. You will soon find that your professors know your name and are genuinely interested in your life. They will help you decide which classes to take or cheer you on at your football game. They will lead you to a foreign land on a J-term trip or sit in the front row of your theater performance. They will invite you over for dinner or even help you overcome your fears at a High Ropes Course. They will celebrate the good times with you and mourn through your struggles. You will learn from them, and sometimes, they will even learn from you.

But whoever said learning only takes place in a classroom setting was entirely wrong. I would say most of my learning so far has taken place outside of the classroom (just don't tell my professors that). A great way to meet returning students and to experience college life is to go to the Organizational Fair this week and sign up for activities. We have over 90 organizations ranging from Model United Nations to the Latin Dance Club to the Stand Up Comedy Club to the Kung Fu Movie Club. If you like to write, join The Current Newspaper, Driftwood Yearbook, Centrique Magazine, or Poetry Underground. If you enjoy volunteering, join Habitat for Humanity or Circle K. If you're looking for brotherhood or sisterhood, join a fraternity or sorority. If you want to grow your faith, join InterVarsity or CUMBYA. There truly is something for everyone. Another reason to attend the Organizational Fair is for the free pizza — believe me, you will learn quickly that anything free is good in college — especially free food.

As you enter into this first week of orientation, let me tell you, it is a whirlwind. Sometimes it may be overwhelming and you may feel homesick, but those are the best times to get out of the residence hall and meet new people. It is in those times you will see what Carthage is really about. Carthage is the place where you have the opportunity to travel or learn about teamwork and leadership in the woods or do experiments for NASA. It's the place where you paint your body red and celebrate as your friend scores her 1000th basketball point. It's the place where you dress up in ratty clothes and dance all night at $5 Prom. It's the place where you spend hours in the caf laughing with your friends. It's the place where you stay up all night with your roommate writing a paper or finishing a convocation speech that should have been written weeks ago. It's the place where you gain independence and it's the place where you simply grow up.

In closing, I want to tell you about that girl I met the first week of school. She wondered what her four years at Carthage would bring. She wondered if she’d make friends and she wondered if she'd find her classes and she wondered if she would get along with her roommate. She wondered if she would ever adjust to college life. Well, that girl is standing in front of you today. I am the girl who cried through her first weeks of college wondering if it would ever feel like home. I am the girl who called her parents that very first night asking them how they could leave her at this "awful" place. I am the girl who stepped out of her comfort zone and met her very best friends that first year. I am the girl who joined organizations and fell in love with this school. I am the girl standing up here jealous because you have four years left here while I only have one. And I am the girl who is 100 percent confident that you are about to begin the best four years of your entire life.

Class of 2013, welcome to Carthage!

About Carthage

Carthage is a private college of the liberal arts and sciences, affiliated with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. Located midway between Chicago and Milwaukee, Carthage's picturesque campus on the Lake Michigan shore is home to approximately 2,500 full-time and 900 part-time students. more...

The Carthage Mission