Convocation remarks
Shelly Anand, College Government President
September 4, 2007

President Bottomly and Shelly Anand at Convocation 2007

Welcome respected faculty, staff, students and an especially warm welcome to President Kim Bottomly. I know I speak on behalf of the entire Wellesley Community when I say that we are really excited to have you as our President. Wellesley is a large extended family and we welcome you warmly into it.

This year is, in many ways, a year of change. All throughout this institution we are evolving, from a new chair to the Board of Trustees, a new president, to students entering the next phase of their academic life here at Wellesley. While the messages I have for you today are directed to each class individually, they are pertinent to every class since they speak to your every juncture here at Wellesley.

 I would like to begin by welcoming my fellow seniors, the Class of 2008! Three years ago we came here from all corners of the world to pursue various goals and ambitions, but there is one common thread amongst our individual paths: we chose Wellesley. Our alumnae are known and respected throughout the world. By coming to one of the top colleges in the country and the top women’s college, we all posed an experiment on ourselves—to see what it meant to be a Wellesley woman. As we embark on our final year, I think we all have a sense of all that goes along with the Wellesley name…the endless hours of hard work, the p-sets, the papers, the lab reports, the office hours and the pressure to be women who will make a difference in the world. But after three years of experience we also all know that certain issues come up again and again every year amongst the student body that effect our every day lives such as mental health and debates over ethnic, cultural and religious identities. And every year it seems as if once the heat of these issues die down, we move on but only until another moment of anxiety and discomfort erupts between us.

Here at Wellesley we have the unique opportunity to learn, live and converse with people from various different backgrounds and belief systems, but we can take better advantage of this opportunity. There are many ways in which we can actively engage with one another beyond the confines of the online community and our computer desks.  Therefore, as your fellow student and peer I have a special request. Before you start counting down the days until our graduation, before you start filling out those grad school or job applications, even before you start assembling the cardboard box you plan to live in when you move to New York or San Francisco, take a moment to reflect about what you want from your last year at Wellesley. As we go out as the Red Class, a color that in many ways symbolizes strength and change, how can we make this college, our college, a place that represents our beliefs, our aspirations and our goals? It is important to remember that it is not the institution that defines us, but we are the ones that define the institution.

While we are a very diverse campus, it appears at times that we allow this diversity to set limitations. If we are supposed to make a difference in the world, we should be able to productively engage in dialogue about difficult issues that affect ourselves and the world at large. We are all determined to pursue our individual goals but I fear that we too quickly forget the reality that exists beyond the Wellesley bubble.

At times it appears as if our generation is plagued with a type of ennui and pervading sense of detachment. The United States, for instance, is still in the midst of a war that, despite one’s personal views, has been ambiguous and troubling from the beginning. Yet I am surprised by how little it is actually debated and discussed, especially amongst our generation. There was a time where students shaped the face of politics, when politicians were seeking the support of university students, but now it seems to be the other way around.

Therefore I ask you, all of you, to find ways in which you can engage in these necessary dialogues. There are various opportunities on this campus to make change. For instance, after the reaction to all the media attention surrounding Dyke Ball our first year, Spectrum took on the initiative to revamp and reinvent the event in a way which truly symbolized its significance to the GLBTQIA community. Furthermore, there are groups such as the Committee for Political and Legislative Action, the College Democrats and Republicans which provide necessary outlets for student political life. Finally, our very own dining halls, class rooms and hallways provide environments that are conducive to discussions on multiculturalism and the very essence of individual identities, but only if we are open and willing to actively engage with one another.

This message is not at all limited to the seniors. To the class of 2009, welcome to your junior year at Wellesley! Your third year at Wellesley will be all about the transition to becoming an upperclass woman. Your courses will be more challenging and furthermore many of your good friends will be gone as they embark on their journeys abroad. You should take this time to look outside your established social circle and meet fellow classmates and peers that you have not had the opportunity to spend time with.

And to the Class of 2010, there is no such thing as the so-called sophomore slump. Your sophomore year will be as beautiful and rewarding as you make it, so stand up to the challenge.

And finally a very special welcome to the class of 2011! As the newest members to the Wellesley community you have the next four years to develop and shape not only yourselves but the face of this college. I ask you to think about the words I shared with the upperclass women. All of you have come here in order to pursue your individual missions, but as you begin your academic career here at Wellesley I ask you to remember the mantra of this College, “Non ministrari sed ministrare,” “Not to be served, but to serve.” It is crucial to remember that your education here is not just for you, your time here is not about getting a fancy degree with name recognition but rather about being part of something bigger where you are of use to the world at large. While there are many ways in which we can define success, whether you are a painter, an i-banker, a mother, a doctor or a chef, the real question is how you are using your education to the benefit of others in all your pursuits.

Above all, I would like to leave you with this thought: Wellesley in many ways is a microcosm of the world at large. This is the year where we need to take issues on campus and in the world into our own hands, so we can do our part for the Wellesley mission of making a difference. Thank you.

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