In just a short time, I’ve witnessed how the spirit of Brunswick and the beauty of Maine shape and enrich the ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ experience. I’m sure you’ve already felt a taste of this during your orientation trips, and trust me—this is just the beginning. We’re about to embark on an incredible journey together, and I couldn’t be more excited to learn and grow alongside you in the years ahead.
At ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, we are united by a commitment to the Common Good, a shared belief in the power of community and ethical responsibility. We’re not just here to witness what is; we’re here to imagine what can be. It might seem easier to stand on the sidelines, but I challenge you to dive in. Use this time to explore, to stretch your boundaries, to find your voice. Will you seize this opportunity to make a difference in the world? It’s a big ask, I know, but it’s one worth considering. So, who exactly are you, these potential world-changers?
This year, a record 13,265 individuals applied to be sitting where you are today. Out of those, seven percent were admitted, and now, 507 first-year students, seven transfer students, and two exchange students have joined us this fall. Eleven percent of you are international students from 53 countries. Forty percent speak more than one language, and 30 percent speak a language other than English at home. You come from 45 U.S. states and the District of Columbia, with 39 percent of you identifying as a person of color.
You are a wonderfully diverse group. Fifty-three percent of you identify as a woman, 45 percent as a man, and three percent as nonbinary or genderqueer. Six percent of you have a family member who attended ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾, while 16 percent are the first in your family to attend a four-year college or university.
You bring with you a rich tapestry of backgrounds and experiences. You identify with various religious traditions—Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Buddhist, Baha’i, Hindu, Taoist—and some of you are atheist, agnostic, or spiritual in other ways. Many of you identify as gay, lesbian, bisexual, transgender, or queer. You come from families of every imaginable configuration, and some of you have persevered through significant health challenges, while others manage ongoing mental or physical health issues. You carry with you a multitude of intersecting identities—some you’ve fully embraced, and others you may still be exploring.
But here’s what’s important: you are not alone. Chances are very good someone else at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾ will understand your background and experiences and will share in your highs and lows. You belong here. You belong at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾.
You’ve already achieved so much, but it’s natural to wonder how you’ll measure up to your peers. Among you, there’s someone who can read and write in Egyptian Hieroglyphics, a nationally ranked skydiver, and a world-class ballerina. Seven of you have created podcasts, three are veterans of the U.S. military, and eight are Eagle Scouts, including one of the very first female-identified individuals to earn that honor. You have cared for younger siblings, helped friends with homework and worked every day to be the person you are. You are a fascinating and complex group, and despite your unique qualities, you also share some similarities.
For instance, we have 11 Alex’s, nine Sophia’s, eight Jakes, seven Will’s, five Maya’s, and five Henry’s among you. If you ever forget someone’s name, just pick one of those—you might just get it right!
And while we have three Hanna’s and one student from Montana, we don’t have a Hanna Montana. We have a Jay and a Z, but no Jay-Z; a Leslie and a Jones, but no Daily Show; a Bowen and a Yang, but no Saturday Night Live; and a Margot and a Robbie, but no Barbie. And that’s okay—what’s most important is that you’re authentically yourself. Who knows? Someday in the future, I might be mentioning one of you in a convocation speech!
Connection is at the heart of any college experience, and that’s especially true here at ºÚÁϳԹÏÍø±¬ÍøÕ¾. You’ll get the most out of your time here if you take a risk and share your story. Your story has the power to inspire, challenge, and offer new perspectives to others, helping them reflect on their own lives.
Over the next few years, you’ll have the chance to build deep, meaningful relationships with the people around you—people you’ll live with, laugh with, argue with, and maybe even fall in love with.
So, take a moment to look around. These are the people who will help make this community thrive. As I think back to my own college days—when I was a young, geeky, closeted freshman at the University of New Mexico—I remember the advice my Dean of Students gave me. She became a mentor and lifelong friend, and her wisdom has stayed with me. Here words to me were:, “You can’t always choose the music that life plays for you, but you can choose how to dance to it.”
So, how will you choose to dance? How will you leave your mark on this community? Your words, actions, and deeds will shape not just your own experience, but also impact the experience of everyone around you.
This is a new beginning, a chance to define who you are and who you hope to become. My question to you is simple: How will you contribute to this community? Because, without a doubt, your presence here will make a difference. What do you want that difference to be?
