The Class of 2021 was officially welcomed to Heidelberg on Thursday with advice to think outside the box and beyond prescribed goals of being an “A” student.
While admirable, that won’t be enough to set you apart four years from now, when competition for jobs will be fierce, according to ’87 ‘Berg alum Dr. Michael Weisend, a distinguished neuroscientist. He was the keynote speaker for Opening Convocation, which officially ushered in the 2017-18 academic year.
Every year, 2 million students receive college degrees, Weisend said. In 1960, an “A” student was fairly rare. In recent years, it has been much more common.
“If you focus on teaching and texts and good scores, you will end up with a degree from Heidelberg, but you want to be ahead of the class,” said Weisend.
To set themselves apart, Weisend encouraged students to look beyond and between the words on a page and envision a blank page, which can be scary. “When you take that risk, you will have the freedom to discover your own passions in the face of criticisms,” he said.
Reflecting on his time at Heidelberg, Weisend said he always felt supported, respected and challenged.
“You guys ended up at a really cool place,” he told the new students. “This is the start of a relationship with the Berg, with your mentors and peers, that will change you. It will last a lifetime.
“How you approach this time will determine where you are when you graduate. For me, it was a ton of work, but it was a ton of fun. My experience at Heidelberg was irreplaceable in helping me pursue my goals in neuroscience.”
During Convocation, Provost Beth Schwartz and President Rob Huntington delivered welcoming remarks to the Class of 2021. The new students received their Heidelberg beanies and “H” pins during the traditional pinning ceremony. The Heidelberg Marching Band, under the direction of Jon Waters, and the Singing Collegians, under the direction of Margaret Thiele, brought great energy to the ceremony with their performances.
View the photo gallery from Opening Convocation.