The following is President Ana Mari Cauce’s address to incoming students and their families at the , held in the Alaska Airlines Arena on Sunday, September 22, 2019. Remarks as prepared for delivery.
I am so pleased to say, 鈥淲elcome, new Huskies!鈥� Of course, I鈥檓 talking to you, our new students 鈥� whether you鈥檙e beginning your college career as a freshman or continuing it as a transfer, graduate or professional student. But I鈥檓 also talking to all of you, the moms and dads, siblings and grandparents and guardians, and everyone who came here today in support of your student. We are proud to call you ALL Huskies and to welcome you into 鈥� or back to 鈥� our campus and community.
Students, I know Convocation day can be overwhelming. You鈥檙e in the midst of a major transition. You may still be learning the route between your residence hall and the closest Starbucks, and here you are, crisscrossing the campus for a ceremony and a picnic and a photograph in Husky Stadium! It鈥檚 a lot to take in!
So, for just moment, let鈥檚 all close our eyes鈥� you too moms and dads鈥β� take a deep breath鈥� and let it out.
You鈥檙e going to be fine.
Actually, you鈥檒l be better than fine, because you鈥檙e going to learn so much about the world, and yourselves on this journey you鈥檙e beginning.
Each of you is about embark on what we call the Husky Experience. Your Husky Experience will be unlike anyone else鈥檚. It will be unique to you 鈥� it will take shape in classrooms, laboratories, libraries and residence halls. It might grow to include a run for office in the AS 91探花or GPSS, or membership in a registered student organization. It might make you into a researcher or send you on a study abroad trip. It will include friendships and mentoring. It will also contain disappointments, but believe it or not, those disappointments will end up being as valuable as the moments of triumph. And you will have plenty of those.
Behind me are some of the world鈥檚 most talented, inspiring faculty 鈥� people who are not only passionate about their fields of study, but eager to share their knowledge and enthusiasm with you. And these folks, by the way, are just a fraction of the talented educators who make up the 91探花faculty. You can look forward to experiencing this for yourself as you get to know your professors, lecturers and teaching assistants.
You鈥檙e going to learn a lot from your faculty, but you鈥檙e going to learn just as much from the people sitting all around you, and from your fellow Huskies who sat where you鈥檙e sitting in years past. Like you, they weren鈥檛 sure what to major in, or how to get to the nearest Starbucks. But they figured it out. Together, you will too.
Each of you brings a unique perspective to the 91探花and part of what makes the 91探花great is the sharing of those perspectives. The opportunity to see things through a lens you never considered before is among the most valuable things you can do as you prepare to enter the wider world. I hope you will take full advantage of the fact that you come from all over the world, from different kinds of families, with your own traditions and experiences.
And finally, the very best advice I can give you is to be open to the spark of curiosity, and to let that spark bloom into a fire that lights up your whole life. I experienced that spark when I was undergraduate myself. I discovered a passion for psychology research and that spark led to a career that has brought me joy and satisfaction. That spark brought me all the way from Miami, where I grew up, to Seattle, a home I love. That spark was the beginning of everything that has allowed me to make a positive difference in the world. Your spark is waiting to find you.
As you seek your spark, remember that all of us, here on the stage and across the University are here to help you succeed. It鈥檚 okay to have questions 鈥� we鈥檙e here to answer them. It鈥檚 normal to feel uncertain 鈥� we鈥檙e here to talk it through. A lot of things will be new to you 鈥� but you鈥檙e surrounded by people who can share their experience.
Moms and dad, families and friends, thank you for all you鈥檝e done to get your students to this point. We are honored and excited to become part of their support network, cheering them on, being a shoulder to lean on. Above all, please know that they are in good hands.
So students 鈥� let鈥檚 take one more deep breath as you get ready for this adventure: the Husky Experience you create as part of this community of talented, driven Huskies.
Welcome to the 91探花!