{"id":1093,"date":"2012-09-01T00:00:38","date_gmt":"2012-09-01T07:00:38","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/?p=1093"},"modified":"2014-02-17T22:25:18","modified_gmt":"2014-02-18T05:25:18","slug":"new-student-convocation-address","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/new-student-convocation-address\/","title":{"rendered":"New Student Convocation Address"},"content":{"rendered":"

By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor<\/span><\/p>\n

–<\/p>\n

The following address was delivered by one of our student editors on behalf of the students at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences as a welcome to St. John\u2019s University to students of the classes of 2016 and 2018.<\/i><\/p>\n

Dean Zito, Administrators, Faculty Members, and students of the classes of 2016 and 2018, Good Afternoon! On behalf of the students at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences, I would like to take this opportunity to welcome each one of you to our esteemed college.<\/p>\n

As I stand here today, I fondly remember my very own student convocation ceremony from August of 2007\u2014it was indeed a significant moment in my life.\u00a0 Simply, making the transition from a high school to a university student was a daunting, yet very exciting, experience. \u00a0I had left the safe haven of home and traveled across the world with the hopes of living out a dream. \u00a0The next 5 years that followed have been life changing for me. \u00a0With every passing year, I found myself challenged to a greater degree and this has contributed to positive and invaluable growth in me. \u00a0I can safely say that the next years of your life will become the vital foundation to enable you to grow into exemplary healthcare providers.<\/p>\n

As it has been famously put: \u201cEven the longest journey starts with the first step.\u201d\u00a0 Today, I congratulate you, as you have taken that very first step.\u00a0 The destination and length of your journey is now in your control.\u00a0 Of course, twists and turns will come and go, and depending on how you navigate through them, they will define you!\u00a0 The next couple of years in college will surely be a challenging journey. \u00a0You will hit roadblocks, but never lose sight of the destination of your journey. \u00a0It will not be easy, but I encourage you to never look down and to persevere in your interests.<\/p>\n

I can assure you that the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences is committed to making your experience as worthwhile as it can be and that you will receive nothing but the best.\u00a0 You will learn in state-of-the-art facilities and receive great, quality education from enthusiastic faculty – some of whom will serve as lifelong mentors.\u00a0 At certain points during your time here, you will have the unique opportunity to be a part of our exciting study abroad programs. \u00a0And when it is time for you to venture out of the classroom into the healthcare setting, you will have an incredible diversity of top institutions to choose from for your clinical rotations.<\/p>\n

Along with all of these, your education here will encompass the humble teachings of the Vincentian spirit and the importance of service to humanity.\u00a0 Do keep in mind that these elements are necessary to develop one\u2019s self before becoming a healthcare professional.<\/p>\n

As you begin your journey, I urge you to make the most of each opportunity you receive.\u00a0 It is indeed an opportunity in itself just to be able to begin college. \u00a0You have a clean slate to start from with no presumptions about you\u2014make the most of it.\u00a0 If you didn\u2019t study as hard in high school, study harder. \u00a0If you were not as involved in extra-curricular activities, then college offers you more chances.\u00a0 With a plethora of student organizations, you can be sure to find your place in a variety of professional, academic, cultural, or religious organizations.\u00a0 If you were not as involved in community service, venture through one of a multitude of service programs, and find the solace that comes with giving back to the community.<\/p>\n

As I alluded earlier, keep in mind that you define your college experience! \u00a0So, explore the unknown: step out of your comfort zone and challenge yourself to greater heights.<\/p>\n

Many have claimed that the time you spend in college is the best time of your life. \u00a0I cannot verify this, but what I can guarantee you is that your years in college will go by very quickly.\u00a0 And once they\u2019re over, you will not be able to have them back. \u00a0So, do not hesitate or let opportunities leave your sight.<\/p>\n

I will leave you with the wise words of Mark Twain.\u00a0 He once said: \u201cTwenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do.\u00a0 So throw off the bowlines. \u00a0Sail away from the safe harbor. \u00a0Catch the trade winds in your sails.\u00a0 Explore.\u00a0 Dream.\u00a0 Discover.\u201d<\/p>\n

I wish each one of you the best of luck as you begin your journey!\u00a0 Thank you for your time!<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

By: Mohamed Dungersi, Associate Student Editor – The following address was delivered by one of our student editors on behalf of the students at the College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences as a welcome to St. John\u2019s University to students of the classes of 2016 and 2018. Dean Zito, Administrators, Faculty Members, and students of…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[343,98,1160,38,2227,29,577,30,314,20,363,968,1625,11,33,21,1061],"class_list":["post-1093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-advice-opinions","tag-and","tag-august","tag-control","tag-dean","tag-ebola-virus-disease","tag-editor","tag-extra","tag-faculty","tag-for","tag-health","tag-of","tag-one","tag-or","tag-pharmacy","tag-student","tag-study","tag-with"],"views":516,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1093","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=1093"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1093\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=1093"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=1093"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/rhochistj.org\/RhoChiPost\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=1093"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}