The Amazing Journey of College
One of my favorite extra pieces of work I do every summer is participating in Wheaton College’s summer orientation program for the incoming class of students. We answer their questions, talk to them about majors, and at the end of the day, help them register for their first semester classes.
At the beginning of the day, we’ve started hosting five to six minute MAPTalks around a theme to give them a little inspiration first thing in the morning. The theme was “abundance and reciprocity,” inspired by Robin Wall Kimmerer’s book The Serviceberry.
I chose to focus on the journey they are about to embark on and the abundance of opportunities available on our campus. This is what I said to them.
Good morning. My name is C.C. Chapman, and I’m a Senior Professor of the Practice of Business and Management. I’m also the Faculty Advisor for The Ohm Initiative, the Faculty Advisor for the Werwolves & Wyverns Gaming Club, and the Sophomore Posse Scholar’s Mentor.
Welcome to Wheaton!
You are all about to set off on an epic journey, and parents, while you are starting a new one as well, this morning, I’m speaking directly to the students.
Now, I’m a massive fan of journeys of all sorts. On this arm, I have Tolkien reminding me that “not all who wander are lost,” and on this arm Bourdain forever nudging me that “the journey changes you.”
Up until this point, most things in your life have been planned for you. School was a block of each day, and while you had some choices, it was nothing like the freedom you are about to experience.
Later this afternoon, each of you will make the choices of what classes you want to take this fall. You all have areas of interest. Some of you have ideas for what you want to major in. The cool thing is that Wheaton allows you to explore, experiment, and experience a wide variety of classes with our Compass curriculum. The choices are up to you!
But your classes are only one path that is part of this next journey for you all, and I hope you’ll take the time to go on a variety of side quests and adventures that will allow you to take full advantage of all that college has to offer you.
There is not a single way to complete college correctly. I will tell you that there is one big way to do it wrong. I know, because I completed college wrong.
I arrived on Bentley University’s campus and got involved with the theater program and the college radio station. I attended my classes, mostly completed my homework, and ultimately graduated. The only staff I talked to were when I was struggling to pay my tuition, and the one time I went to a professor’s office was when I worked up the nerve to ask about a programming assignment I didn’t understand.
I did not take advantage of the variety of resources and opportunities in college, but here I stand today, hoping to inspire you all to do better than I did.
Wheaton’s campus is home to an abundance of amazing and inspiring individuals. Professors who want to get to know you and help you, even if you never take a class with them. Staff who will go above and beyond to make sure you have what you need to be successful.
There are no NPCs here. Everyone who works at Wheaton wants to be part of your amazing adventure.
On this journey, you could get up and go to your classes. Go to Chase or Emerson for your meals. Hang out on the Dimple with friends. Do your homework in the Library or your room. Four years from now, I’ll see you all over there on The Dimple, and you’ll be handed a diploma. There will be cheers and bagpipes, and you’ll move on to the next phase of life.
When the activities fair happens this fall, go to it and meet students from every corner of campus who might share interests with you. Don’t be afraid to try something new, attend an event that sounds interesting, or say hi to someone who catches your eye.
Go to women’s basketball games, theme house cookouts, and plays in this theater. Attend the opening nights of the gallery, business information sessions in the Life and Career Design Institute, and listen to guest speakers when they come to campus.
Talk to your professors outside of class. Go to their office hours. Have conversations with them. It might start with not understanding a reading and end with a recommendation letter for graduate school or your first job.
I have students swing by my office to grab candy, discuss the latest movie they've seen, or brainstorm around their future career plans. If you have pets at home that you miss, be sure to show me photos! I love that I have a reputation for helping any student, and how often I hear, “I was told I should talk to you.”
You are all about to spend far too much time and money, not to take advantage of all the opportunities at Wheaton.
Never, ever think “I can’t go to that as it is outside my major, or I don’t know anyone else going.” Get out of your dorm room and attend everything and anything that gives you a twinge of “that sounds like fun.”
College is what you make of it, and I’m begging you not to waste the abundance of gifts that can be found on our beautiful little corner of the world.
We may not have dragons, but we do have fun surprises in the woods, a wizardly corner of the library, and the only cowduck I know of in the world.
Please enjoy your amazing college journey and stay safe out there.
Thank you.
