“Close your eyes and think about what you want to accomplish this semester” These words were spoken by Sal Moschella, the Executive Dean, to the 676 incoming students who sat together as a whole in the student union this evening. Today the MV Explorer set sail for the Summer 2011 Semester at Sea voyage. Excited students, lifelong learners, staff and faculty all gathered together to listen to the Academic Dean, Executive Dean and the Dean of Students. Everyone cheered and showed enthusiasm for embarking on this journey together.
The Deans encouraged the students with the following thoughts and questions:
- Engage people in the countries we visit
- Think big, don’t sweat the small stuff
- Be an ambassador for your school, self and Semester at Sea
- How do the people live compared to where we live?
- Develop a better understanding of who you are?
- Embrace our diversity on our ship
- Meet people who are rich with experiences
- Connect with people locally and then stay in touch with them when you return
- Learn to value the stories of others who are different then yourselves
- Learn Passionately
- Engage respectfully
- Have fun respectfully
- Be safe
We are all so privileged to be able to participate in this experience. As the students waved goodbye to their families from the ship, they turned to their fellow classmates who will quickly become new friends and watched the sunset from the deck.
The quote of the day from our first Deans memo is most appropriate for embarkation day,” Man cannot discover new oceans unless he has the courage to lose sight of the shore” ‚ÄìAndre’ Gide The journey begins‚Ķ
