Move-In & Orientation
A Final Welcome
April 22, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
WELCOME CLASS OF 2017!
We are so excited to have you here. For those of you I didn’t meet on Day for Admitted Students (DFAS) I look forward to getting to know you a little better in the fall.
Before making this post, I was going to attempt to write a long list of different pieces of advice for all freshmen over their 4 years here. While that may be possible, I think it is better to be simple and say: just be you.
I was certainly nervous coming to college. How do I meet new people? What if everyone on my freshman hall is weird? Worst of all … what if I was the weird one? These questions and others streamed in and out of my mind as move-in day occurred. Then it hit me…
All of this won’t matter. If you just act like yourself, get involved with activities you love, and be a little open-minded, you will have the time of your life at W&M—I guarantee it. Have you ever wanted to play water polo but never had the opportunity? We have that here. Have you always wanted to audition for a play but was too scared? Do it. Have you ever wanted to research a certain subject, but didn’t know how to start? Our professors can help.
College is a new beginning, a fresh start—embrace that!
See you in the fall, ya’ll!
-John A.
Hermey & Rudolph
March 18, 2013 by Admission Ambassador
Hermey turned to Rudolph and said, “hey, what do you say we both be independent together, huh?”
I remember my freshman move-in day like it was yesterday. I woke up at 6:30 a.m. to make it across town for the earliest move in time, 8:00 a.m. All of my friends from home had left already, so I was antsy to experience what they had been talking about. I had already met my roommate at Day For Admitted Students, and we were ready to start our next chapter. So here we were, unloading everything we could fit into suitcases onto the sidewalk and waiting to have them picked up and carried in for us by move-in helpers from various organizations. We arranged and rearranged and then rearranged our room again until it was exactly how we thought we wanted it. Finally, everything was put away and in its proper place. Knowing that it would only stay like this for about a day, we soaked it in and took off for Orientation day 1.
First activity? Name Game. What adjective starts with a K? Kooky? That’s a great way to present myself…And seriously, how many Katherines and Kaitlins can we have on a hall? We can’t all be kooky. I’ll settle for clepto with a k. Klepto Kelley.
So here we were. Dupont third east. The 32 girls who would live together for a whole year. The best year. A Puerto Rican, a Chicagoan, a Brit, a Williamsburger, and everywhere in between. And somehow, we worked. We all joined different organizations and took different classes. But without fail, every Wednesday at 9:00, our hall went absolutely silent because Criminal Minds was on. With all the lights off, the smell of popcorn and cookie dough radiated through the hall, and not a single sound was heard between 9 and 10. When the clock struck 10:00, it was back to the Book of Mormon for GER 7, or Pseudoscience for a freshman seminar, or the six developmental stages being taught in Natural Psychology.
One of the foundations of modern psychology is the Gestalt principle. The whole is greater than the sum of the parts. This idea could not be more accurate when applied to William & Mary. You can read all the statistics and every Princeton or Forbes review that you want, but we, those 32 girls and the neighboring 32 boys and the hall after that: that is William & Mary. One Tribe, One Family. Independent together.
-Kelley
Fall Semester in 500 Words
December 7, 2012 by Danny Anderson
First off, I know you all have been anxiously awaiting my glorious return to the W&M blogosphere. I apologize for the long delay, but due to seventeen credits, an internship hunt and numerous on-campus commitments I have been beyond busy this semester. However, the wait is over because the kid is back! It’s been a great semester here at W&M with a lot going on around campus, however, I’m going to limit my post to some of my highlights.
Giving Tours
Giving tours has been especially great this semester. I’m not sure why, but for some reason I keep getting the BEST tour groups. Every group I’ve had has been super engaged and excited to learn about W&M. The highlight of my tours this semester was hands down getting an interview for an internship from one of the mothers on my tour. Yeah, my tours are THAT good. So, if you’re ever on campus, look for me to be your tour guide because it’s so great you’ll just want to hire me when you’re done. Of course, I’m kidding but in all seriousness my tours really have been great. I’ve especially enjoyed giving them this semester and I really did get an interview.
Orientation
This semester I participated for the first time as an Orientation Aide (OA) for freshman orientation and it was an incredible experience. I was assigned a men’s hall in Yates (shout out to Y2$) and had an absolutely incredible time getting to know them through the five day orientation. It was so much fun to help them get acclimated to the community that I love so much. I see those guys around campus all the time and it’s always great to check-in and see how they’re doing. Needless to say, I instantly reapplied when the application was available, and fortunately was selected to return for next year. I’m already looking forward to Orientation 2013!
All Tribe, One Family
I may have mentioned this in another post but I was fortunate enough to have my older cousin as a classmate here at William & Mary for my first two years. It was awesome to have someone that I’ve known my whole life to share the incredible experience that is William & Mary with. Because of this, it was very bittersweet to see him graduate last spring. However, this pain was eased by the incredibly awesome news I got this week. My older cousin’s little brother (so, my other cousin) just got his Early Decision acceptance to join the Tribe and will be a member of the Class of 2017 starting next fall! This means that all the Peppe (my mother’s maiden name) grandsons will have gone to William & Mary! I am so excited to welcome my cousin, I can barely contain myself. I’m pretty sure I’ve told absolutely everyone I know. And with this blog post, I’m telling everyone I don’t know as well!
And yeah, this post is exactly 500 words.
Alma Mater Hail,
Danny
Reminiscing…
November 30, 2012 by Tour Guides
A student from my high school started emailing me a few days ago asking me all kinds of questions about William & Mary. It got me thinking… my time here is almost halfway over. People aren’t kidding when they say that college goes by in the blink of an eye. Now I’m panicking asking myself if I’m I squeezing every last ounce out of my four years here as I can. Let’s call this my mid-college-life crisis, shall we? Looking back on my experiences during the past year and a half, though, I don’t think I would have changed anything. Some of the highlights include:
“Battling the Elements”
During the first few weeks of school I discovered the joy of having to walk to class in the rain. (Invest in rain jackets, people. You’ll thank me later.) More importantly, I discovered how important Wawa was to my personal well-being. One night during September of my freshman year, a group of my hall mates and I were running around our dorm causing all kind of mischief–and let me tell you, this is hard work–so we worked up an appetite. We had a team huddle and knew what we needed to do: Wawa run. We got our wallets and shoes and walked out the door. BAD IDEA. Retreat! Retreat! Williamsburg is at it again! Unfortunately, Williamsburg’s mother nature decides to surprise us with unpredictable weather patterns, and on that night there were flash flood warnings. Wawa was still a priority, though, so we geared up, boots and all, and set off in search of food. We trekked all the way across campus to the almighty Wawa just in time for it to stop raining upon our arrival. We still ate our sandwiches with pride, knowing that we combated the downpour, and saw many of our friends in the same situation. It was time to go back home…when it started raining again. Of course. But, alas, we had to get home. We took off, but because we were already soaked from our first trip, we decided to take a detour. We danced in the middle of the streets because there were no cars out, we went mud sliding in the Sunken Garden, and we made a makeshift raft and floated down the overflowing Crimdell. I don’t think my rain boots have ever recovered, but I think it’s a sacrifice well worth it.
“The Swem Crazies”
As William & Mary students, we do take our studies seriously. We’re here for an education, after all. During the spring semester of my freshman year, I had an exam on East Asian Art that I’d been stressing over for a while. Though I had been studying, the night before the exam came, and I realized I didn’t know the paintings quite to the extent I needed to…CRISIS. One of my good friends joined my in a study room in the library and we cracked down. I reached a point where I just wasn’t retaining information, so my friend showed me a youtube video of a dance called “The Wop” (feel free to look it up—hilarious). Being the terrible dancer I am, I decided to give it a try. A video of me doing the dance that night in the Swem study room is now available on youtube for your viewing pleasure.
“OA Bonding”
Freshman Orientation is a huge part of the experience here. You always get the question, “Oh, who was your OA?” (OA = Orientation Aide) and then the conversation flows from there. Orientation not only allows freshmen to get to know one another, it also allows us as OAs to get to know one another. Little do you know, OAs get to school over a week early in preparation for the incoming freshman class, bonding, chanting, making up weird dances, and eating. Let’s be realistic—the two things William & Mary students value the most: free t-shirts and food. Now all this sounds a little bit odd, but many of the people I met as an OA have become my close friends. One morning during orientation, OAs had to wake up at 6am in order to help freshmen register for classes, and once that was over, everyone got a two hour break to recharge. My fellow OAs and I went downstairs to the dorm lounge and just sat there having life discussions. We quickly realized how tired we were and fell asleep on one another. Someone was kind enough to take a picture of the four of us while we were asleep. It now hangs above my desk.
I’ve come to realize that it’s not always the ‘organized’ activities that make your time here. It’s the people you surround yourself with. You’ll only be in this environment for four short years, so take advantage of the uniqueness William & Mary provides. If you’re a prospective student reading this, know that you need to jump right in and get your feet wet rather than tiptoeing through college. Disregard your vulnerabilities and take William & Mary by storm! (No weather pun intended.)
Joe Foster
Class of 2015
Fresher’s Week: The Adventure Begins
September 21, 2012 by Abby Gomulkiewicz
Looking out of my dorm window, I find myself wondering how recently I could have been in Virginia enjoying humidity and Colonial American architecture. Now, my dorm window reveals a fierce Scottish wind and the rolling hills of Scotland. I walk along cobbled streets—not that Colonial red brick—but brown stone.
It has taken me two years, but I am here in Scotland about to begin my second year of study at the University of St Andrews—the oldest university in Scotland. This last week, I have participated in the St Andrew’s tradition of Fresher’s Week—sort of a Scottish version of Orientation week with fewer rules and more pubs. My hall, St. Regulus, has about 100 students and is full of hall spirit. We participated in clan warfare where my face got painted with black and red butterflies. There was a traditional Scottish Ceilidh dance. In high school I was a Highland dancer, so I quite enjoyed the polka, dashing white sergeant and the Virginia reel. They take these dances quite seriously with a live band and refreshments. We also had a hall party where everyone dressed as something which begins with the first letter of your name.
On Monday, classes began. I am taking three classes, or modules as they call them here. My first module covers the British Empire in the modern age—apparently that means 1500 onward. This last week, we covered the Reformation and its effects on the various parts of the British Isles (England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales). In this class, I have many of my fellow WAMSTAs. We all sit in a row and meet before class. My other history module is the High Middle Ages. To be honest, I am not always a fan of medieval history, but am enjoying the class so far. We have discussed the evolution of towns in the 13th to 15th centuries and the blossoming of international trade in that time period. My final module is Spanish. In fact, as I write this blog, I am about ready to head to my first Spanish tutorial. Tutorials are smaller classes outside the lecture with two to seven students. They are all led by professors and I have them for each of my three classes.
So anyway…it has been a busy almost two weeks. I am starting to settle into life at St Andrews. Of course, I have worn many dresses and my Hunter rain boots. Everything has been done in true Abby style.
Stillness is the Move
September 13, 2012 by Aaron Barksdale
I have worked in W&M’s New Student Orientation program for the last three years: twice as Orientation Area Director (OAD), once as a Transfer Orientation Aide (TOA), and once as a Freshmen Orientation Aide (FOA). After participating in an Orientation program each semester since my freshman year, I’m surprised that it always seems new and exciting. The excitement is really a response from new students, freshmen and transfers, their families, and their OA’s. My experience at William & Mary has been amazing because of the relationships I’ve formed with a diverse set of students and staff.
Botetourt OAs 2012 (BoteHotties)
I have gained a greater appreciation for this institution from working in the New Student Orientation program and in the Dean of Students office. As an Orientation Area Director I, along with nine other OADs, was responsible for setting a good example for the Orientation Aides who worked under me. As a previous Orientation Aide I understood the weight of their role and the responsibilities that they have to shoulder. In addition, I communicated formally and informally with students and family members, as well as college faculty members and staff.
2011 and 2012 OADs (The coolest people ever)
Thinking back to my own Orientation experience as a freshman nearly four years ago I remember the grueling heat of Williamsburg in August. Accompanied by parents and the student volunteers on Move-in Day, I entered the Botetourt Complex (Nicholson Hall 217), and set my things down in my new room. I was greeted by the smiling faces of the two students who would be my Orientation Aides (OAs): Benton and Carmen. They were involved in a wide array of activities on campus, and they each were excited to share their love of college with students on our freshman hall. I can recall our OAs rallying us across campus to awkward mixers with people we had never met before. Large meals in the dining halls (the Caf), programs about the values of the institution, and then registration were some of the many events I remember being packed into the long week.
My freshman Hall and our awesome OAs 2009!
However, when the program was finished, what resonated the most was the enthusiasm of the student leaders and the program’s strength in establishing those life-long bonds with the College that I can look back on and laugh. It was these bonds that encouraged me to apply to become an OA and continue sharing that experience with other members of the Tribe.
Me and My Co Ellie at Convocation 2010!
Likewise, that same motivation inspired me to become an OAD and assist in the new student transition to life at W&M in another capacity. Now that I have completed my last Orientation program, I’m left with nostalgic memories, and a bit of jealously for the newest members of Tribe who are set for the best four years of their life. Congratulations once again 2016!
What I’ve Learned So Far
August 31, 2012 by Claire Gillespie
In the week that it has been since I came to William and Mary, I have learned a number of new phrases, including the word Nova (Northern Virginia – not to be confused with Rova – the Rest of Virginia) and the acronyms RAR, OA, PFOA, and TWAMP (in this order: Resident Assistant Roommate, Orientation Aide, Parent/Family Orientation Aide, and Typical William and Mary Person – which is unabashedly used to describe a busy overachiever). Acronyms are a must here, maybe because people have such big and bright ideas that they do not want to waste time saying a single extra syllable or maybe because coming to William and Mary feels like joining an exclusive – yet very friendly – club.
It is hot here, but luckily, it rains frequently (often without warning) and cools down the entire campus. Rain boots are another must, because the three-hundred-year-old brick that lines Williamsburg is slightly uneven and creates giant puddles. The campus is beautiful – it is all green and purple flowered trees and buildings that breath with history (and red masonry). The best part of William and Mary, however, is the people. My classmates and I were welcomed in a way that it took only three days for freshmen to respond to the question “Where are you from?” with the name of their dorm hall instead of the places they have spent the last several years of their life.
The students here talk about everything from spending their summers in England or India doing service work and studying abroad to the best strategies to win a game of Risk. They talk about research projects and internships and Albus Dumbledore. They care about everything from finding a short line at the omelet station in the Commons to feeding starving children in Africa. The students here stop when they see a confused face – like my own – and help us find our way – to a dorm, to a class, to all the opportunities that make up this place. I am so honored to be part of this community of passionate, intelligent, and most importantly, kind people who make up the past, present, and, especially, the future of the College of William and Mary.
First Apartment: The Reprisal of the Collegiate “No Parents!” Sentiment
August 28, 2012 by Christian Dutilh
I remember it clearly. Like it was just yesterday. My first morning and William & Mary. The freedom! The opportunity! The nausea! Oh wait, that was the second morning.
Anyway, the feeling was electric. To be on your own, making your own decisions, and doing things your own way. However, as with anything else cool in life, the buzz fades after a while. You get accustomed to a new lifestyle and what once seemed novel now seems normal. By senior year, everyone kind of seemed jaded by the whole thing.
But, as always, life has its funny little ways of reinvigorating you. All it takes is a little change.
Reveling in the mornings
For me, this change has been my new apartment in DC. It’s probably the coolest thing in my whole wide world. Every day when I’m sitting at the office, I can’t hardly wait to walk two blocks, hop on the bus for a few minutes, and stroll up Meridian Hill to my new abode.
Having an apartment represents so much. More so than I did in college, I now truly feel independent. Having an apartment means being able to support yourself. It means you’re contributing to the economy. To me, it means you’ve made it.
I hope the thrill of city apartment living never dwindles. I love the hum of the traffic and the screech of the sirens. I love my diverse neighborhood with more cool restaurants than you could shake a stick at. I love the graffiti on the signposts and the kids playing ball in the street. I love watching the rain from the window in my living room.
So, to my seniors who are coming back to school for their fourth years in Williamsburg, let me just tell you one thing. Life gets more exciting from here. I promise.
Cheers,
Christian
Faculty Panel: Orientation for the Class of 2016
August 27, 2012 by Anne Charity Hudley
I was honored to speak today to the first year and transfer students in the William and Mary Class of 2016 about our academic expectations. You can download my talk (pdf).
Faculty Panel: Orientation for the Class of 2016
Anne H. Charity Hudley
College of William and Mary
August 25th, 2016
1. Introduction
Welcome, Class of 2016 and transfer students, to the College of William and Mary! I hope you got some rest last night and I hope that you had some fun! My name is Professor Anne Harper Charity Hudley and I am Associate Professor of English and Education. I work primarily within the Linguistics, Africana Studies, and Community Studies programs and I serve as the William and Mary Professor of Community Studies. My research and publications address the relationship between linguistic and cultural variation and pre K-16 educational practices and policies. Specifically, I study how the language students use impacts the way teachers interact with students and are able to best instruct students. I also work to help educators understand that language is culture so that we must work to teach students what they need to be successful in schools without eradicating or devaluing their home language and culture.
William and Mary is a small college and like many of you, I like to do many things at once, so I am also the Director of the William & Mary Scholars Program and the William and Mary Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience, also known as WMSURE. I am from Henrico County, Virginia and attended St. Catherine’s School in Richmond, VA. The first week of college can be amazing and it can be a little scary as well. We planned a lot for today, it’s a little scary for us as well and that’s OK!
2. What does it mean to be a Scholar?
I’ve been asked to talk to you a bit today about classroom and academic expectations. In short, we faculty at William and Mary expect you to be scholars. Thinking broadly, what does it mean to be a scholar? It means you get to ask yourselves and then more importantly answer the following questions:
How many more lives you can touch as a college educated person? Including your own? You are now living your dream- either full on or, I hope, at least a part of it. As I walked around during move-in yesterday, I spoke with students who were third generation W&M students and I spoke with students who were the first in their families to go to college. What an amazing range of legacy and new spirits you can combine into learning with in the liberal arts framework for a public good.
How much more good you can do for the world and what can you contribute both to your local community and the world at large? It is important to remember that good can be defined in a myriad of ways. Good is intellectual, financial, social, and spiritual to name just a few. We wait anxiously for the combination that you will create! I’ll ask you now and I’ll ask you over the next four years: What do you want to be when you grow up? It was an important question in kindergarten and it’s an important question now as that range of what you can possibly be expands.
What ideas can you create, models can you build, and solutions can you discover that have never been though of before? Learning the content is just the beginning; synthesizing it and building upon it is the name of the game. We are here to be masters of knowledge and also challengers of the status quo and full time thinkers and dreamers!
3. Differences Between High School & William and Mary
To make this type of scholarship possible it is important to think about some of the possible differences between your high school and other educational experiences and the experiences that you will have at William and Mary. Those of you who have taken AP, IB, have been dually enrolled, and those who have transferred will find that these distinctions will apply to you as well as to students who have not had those experiences, so everyone, listen up!
The William and Mary and greater academic culture is constantly shifting and changing and that is the nature of being at a university. In high school, school or state standards determined much of what you had to know. Here at William and Mary, in many ways, YOU ultimately decide what you need to know. Within that, individual professors within general college, and state, and accreditation guidelines determine much of what you need to know for our classes. It is important, then, to understand the expectations of individual professors and the only way to know is to ask. That means asking about things big and small and small things that may end up big. That means asking what the professor wishes to be called both in person and on email. Some prefer “Professor”, some prefer “Doctor” if they hold a doctorate (ask if they do), some prefer “Ms.” to “Mrs.” or “Miss”, others prefer to be called by their first name (again, ask!). It is important to ask each professor about their policies and philosophies on the use of laptops, cell phones, and smart phones. Professors have different rules and it’s important to understand their rationale about why you should or shouldn’t be online during lecture and/or discussion. I take notes on my iPhone but to other profs it might appear as if you are not engaged and are texting, you need to know if that is the case. If plagiarism has been explained to you but you are still unsure of all that it entails, ask! If it hasn’t been explained to you yet, ask!
In high school, you most often studied according to a pre-determined program and schedule. Here at William and Mary, you can study and research whatever you are interested in. We are here to make it happen together! For those reasons, it’s important to maximize your contact with professors both inside and outside of the classroom so that you can best understand what is expected of you. Many of us both teach classes and direct research groups or labs. Our strongest students are present in both contexts. With such opportunity also comes the responsibility for making sure your requirements are met within the class, major, and graduation guidelines but I’ll put a plug in here for self-designed majors and the Community Studies minor that really do let you combine your interests in innovative ways! It is up to you to ensure that your readings and practice problems and exercises are completed before class, you have to make sure that you understand the syllabus and the information provided, it is up to you to make sure you have all that you need for you to be successful and that we as faculty understand explicitly what your individual definition of success is and that you understand our individual definitions as well. So ask!
Another crucial aspect of being a scholar is understanding how to cope with both success and challenges. In high school, you were near the top of the class as defined by your school. That’s part of how admissions works here at William and Mary. Now that you’re here, everyone was near the top of the class; now the definitions of top will differ dynamically. There is a deep pool of diverse ability among you! People can do what you do and some can do it better. Some of you can do it better than anybody! Some of you can do stuff that we didn’t even think of yet!
For many of you, this change will mean a change in your interpretation of success. This change will also mean a difference in your interpretation of study skills: For those of you who didn’t have to take notes, create study guides, do the reading in high school, you will probably have to now to remain at the top of the class; that I can be pretty sure of. Learning how to synthesize large amounts of information and how to create unique and well-synthesized arguments are critical to the scholarly process. Professors are more than willing to talk with you about the best ways to prepare and study for their classes and to refer you to students who have taken their classes for peer advice. Xavier University in New Orleans, Louisiana has a great way of thinking about the diversity of academic experiences that you may have had prior to coming to William and Mary: “What doesn’t work is saying, ‘You need remedial work.’ What does work is saying, ‘You may be somewhat behind at this time but you’re a talented person. We’re going to help you advance at an accelerated rate.” We too know that you are talented, so if you find that you need to advance at accelerated rate, please let us know. The Dean of Students Office, the Writing Resource Center, the Tribe Tutor Zone, the counseling center, the center for student diversity, programs including PLUS and WMSURE are all here to support that transition and process. You should be using them ALL as resources regularly, not just when challenges arise! You don’t want your first visit to your professor’s office hours to be after you have had challenges with an assignment or exam. Get to know them now so that the sky remains the limit. Schedule the office hours just as you schedule the class. It’s going to be up to you to make the extra appointment, to get the extra hour of sleep so that you get to class on time and then stay awake (we notice, even in big lecture halls), and to make sure you eat properly so that your brain is operating at maximal function.
4. What Does It Mean to Be a Scholar at William and Mary?
So now we’ve worked a bit to define what it means to be a student vs. a scholar. What does it mean to be a scholar among scholars at the College of William and Mary? It truly means that you belong here and that I am honored that you are here. We as professors aim to be among your greatest inspiration, greatest challengers, and your greatest resources. During your advising appointments on Monday, that road to being a scholar starts. You will learn about your advisor’s interests and triumphs as scholars and you can also learn about their challenges. Ask your professors, what’s the lowest grade they’ve ever gotten; when where their paths were windy. What were their greatest accomplishments? What co-curricular activities did they do in college? You might be surprised. Ask your fellow students as well. Those stories of success and navigation will pave the way for the next year of scholars and those generations thereafter.
5. Segue into research and conclusion: In conclusion, what is expected in College? Responsibility and perseverance!
Among the faculty seek out those great number of us who truly believe that in order for William and Mary to be successful, we desperately need you to be successful. The best aspect of William and Mary is that you directly engage with faculty and we directly engage with you. Take advantage of it. You all are my co-researchers, co-authors, co-designers of community studies and WMSURE. WMSURE is all about making sure that students who have historically been underrepresented at William and Mary are maximally successful and take advantage of every academic resource the College has to offer.
For many of my students, the shift that was the most pronounced was that of the dynamics of intellectual authority in the classroom. In high school, students are often recipients of knowledge, whereas at William and Mary, knowledge is often a collaborative creation of both students and professors. That’s a wonderful gift in so many ways; it means that you’re invited to treat your professors more as peers than you did your teachers (and here’s where, of course, the research component comes in). But it also means that you need to step up; you’re not doing it right if you don’t do your assignments and readings and come to class fully prepared to engage.
It is a big responsibility for you when I say quite literally that your success is my success. The success of the person sitting next to you is your success. The success of your BFF/brother from another mother that you haven’t met yet is your success! And my father, whose mother dreamed of him coming to William and Mary in a time when Jim Crow laws made that impossible wants me to tell you that if I’m the one who’s giving you THIS talk at William and Mary, then you can definitely be president or anything else you might want to be! So get to it!
Anne H. Charity Hudley, Ph.D.
Associate Professor of Education, English, Linguistics, and Africana Studies
Associate Editor, Language
William and Mary Professor of Community Studies
Director, William & Mary Scholars Program
Co-Director, William & Mary Scholars Undergraduate Research Experience (WMSURE)
The College of William and Mary
Williamsburg, Virginia
acharityhudley@wm.edu
Resources:
Transition from High School to College:
SMU: How is College Different From High School
MSTC:Youth Options: High School vs. College (pdf)
Counseling Support Groups:
Counseling Center: Available Counseling Groups
Study Skills:
Dean of Students Office: Study Skills
Dartmouth Academic Skills Center: Where to Study/How to Study
- Strategies for Improving Concentration and Memory – Virginia Tech
- I Just Can’t Seem to Concentrate! – University of Pennsylvania
- Increasing Motivation – University of Victoria
- Improving Your Memory – Texas A&M University
Study Tips:
- Basic Study Techniques – Texas A&M University
- Study Hacks – Blog created by Cal Newport
- Ten Traps of Studying – University of North Carolina
- Top 11 Study Skills – Stanford University
- Study Environment Analysis – Virginia Tech
- Study Skills Checklist – Virginia Tech
- Putting Your Extracurricular Skills to Use in Your Studies – Princeton University
- How to form a successful study group – Duke University
I did not write this alone. Thanks to all of my family, teachers/mentors, friends/colleagues, classmates, current and former students for their input. I’d like to give a special thanks to my father, Dr. Renard A. Charity Sr. who helped me with every major idea. All contributors are listed below.
My family:
Dr. Renard A Charity Sr. (my father)
Dr. Cynthia M. Charity (my mother)
Mrs. Renee Charity Price, St. Catherine’s School (my sister)
Mr. J. Christopher Hudley, The College of William and Mary MBA ’14 (my husband)
My teachers/mentors:
Mr. Steve Cambisios, St. Catherine’s School
Dr. Brian Joseph, The Ohio State University
My colleagues:
Ms. Kirsten, Bradley, Booker T. Washington High School, Norfolk VA Public Schools
Dr. Christy Burns, The College of William and Mary
Ms. Angelique Clarke, Chesterfield County VA Public Schools
Ms. Nancy Everson, The College of William and Mary
Dr. John Griffin, The College of William and Mary
Dr. Jill Hallett, Illinois Institute of Technology
Dr. Lisa Landino, The College of William and Mary
Dr. Rowan Lockwood, The College of William and Mary
Dr. Christine Mallinson, UMBC
Dr. Susan Tamasi, Emory University
Dr. Carol Tieso, The College of William and Mary
Ms. Ashleigh Greene Wade, St. Catherine’s School
Dr. Brett Wilson, The College of William and Mary
My classmates and classmates of my sister:
Dr. Rachel Easterly Gagen, F.Read Hopkins Pediatrics (from St. Catherine’s School)
Mrs. Kara Bleecher, Hanover High School (from St. Catherine’s School)
Dr. Damien Hall (from the University of Pennsylvania)
Carsten Reichel (from Harvard University)
Ms. Georgina Sommerville (from Cambridge University, UK)
Ms. Terelle Wilson (classmate of my sister from Northfield Mount Hermon)
My students:
Kira Allmann, The College of William and Mary ’10, PBK, Rhodes Scholar, Oxford University, UK
Brittney Calloway, The College of William and Mary, ’10, George Mason, MEd ’13
Kate Chelak, The College of William and Mary ’11, MEd, ’13
Elizabeth Coppock, Stanford University, PhD ’09
Katherine DeFazio, The College of William and Mary ’14
Juliana Glasco, The College of William and Mary ’08
Renee Seibel King, The College of William and Mary ’05, PBK, BA Utah State University
April Lawrence, The College of William and Mary, EdD, ’14
Brittany McLaughlin, The University of Virginia ’07; University of Pennsylvania, PhD ’14
William B. Morris, The College of William and Mary ’11, University of Pennsylvania, MA. ’13
Luke Pickett, The College of William and Mary ’14
Daniel Villarreal, The College of William and Mary Class of 1940 Scholar ’10, PBK, University of California Davis ‘ 15
Class of 2016: What’s your story?
August 27, 2012 by Madelyn Smith
“Where are you from?” “What freshman dorm are you in?” “What introductory econ class are you taking this semester?” “Your mom cried when you pulled out of the driveway and didn’t stop until after you moved in? Funny, mine too!”
There is nothing better than those first few, sometimes painfully awkward, days at orientation.
But let me tell you something, Class of 2016… YOU MADE IT! You have flipped the page and are currently writing the next chapter of your life. A chapter full of curiosity and wonder. A chapter where you can be any character, conquering any challenge and exploring any adventure… YOU control your story.
Three years ago I was exactly in your position with a blank sheet of paper in front of me, a pen in my hand and a few notes from my past beside me. I was so anxious to see what the next four years would bring and was dying to skip to the next chapter to see what the ending would be. Would I make friends at college? Would I live through my first chemistry class? How would I ever survive orientation that first week? I just wanted to know that I would be OK.
Class of 2016, I can promise that you will be more than just OK. In fact, chances are you are going to thrive at William and Mary! You were selected to be a part of this class because you are a remarkable student. Your hard work, determination and drive brought you to where you are today and you should be incredibly proud of yourselves. One of my favorite campaigns at William and Mary is the “I AM W&M” week. Say to yourself, “I _________ AM W&M” Because, you are. You are the essence of the College, the future of the College and the intellect that fosters the reputation of the College. Together you and your peers will make the College into what it will become. So, get out there and create the best story ever told!
If you don’t know where to begin, start by taking initiative. Explore a facet of your character that you have always been curious about; dive into a new interest. Try a new sport or pursue a quirky passion. Experiment with different story lines and use the setting of this chapter, the College, to your advantage. William and Mary, it’s students, faculty, staff and administration are here for you. These people are here to see you grow, help you discover and teach you how to learn.
Over the course of my time at the College, different characters have come and gone, taught me life lessons and given me pieces of advice. I have journeyed through frustrations, trials and great accomplishments. But, the beauty is that this is only one story. One story of 5,000 stories at the College of William and Mary. You have a chance to set your pen to the page for the first time in this chapter, what will you do?
Class of 2016, what’s your story?