Black students took a group photo around a Duke sign on the steps in front of Duke Chapel.
The Semester Begins With Writing Letters
Music and wellness sends Duke’s 100th class into their first courses
The Semester Begins With Writing Letters
Music and wellness sends Duke’s 100th class into their first courses
Even before members of Duke’s 100th class stepped into their first course work, they had an important assignment: Write a letter to their future selves.
As the first-year students of the Class of 2028 walked by the Wall Center for Student Life on East Campus Monday morning, they were encouraged by Student Affairs staff as part of a first day program to write the letters. Staff members then wrapped up the letters and put them away in storage to be presented back to the students when they graduate.
The letter writing was one of the ways that helped students keep the excitement of the start of their Duke experience while transitioning while them into the daily routine of classwork.
Students write letters to their future selves.
Above, fresh fruit for snacks; below, friends in a photo booth.
The First Day of Class program also emphasized wellness, with students encouraged to begin healthy daily practices from the very start to prepare them for more stressful periods during the academic year.
This included offering healthy fruit snacks to students as they headed to class. There also was music: Duke Arts arranged for musicians from Integrity Strings to perform for students waiting for the bus.
And to help make the day memorable, a photo booth was on hand for students to pose and revel with their classmates.
Marie Neubrander, a Ph.D. student, helps first-year Noah Awan during Statistics 199 lab in The Link Classroom 3.
Students in the organic chemistry 2 class follow Professor Ross Widenhoefer’s lecture.
After a week of early fall weather, the summer heat returned. The Brodhead Center was packed at lunch time with long lines and few tables. But the vibe on campus was cool and filled with excitement. Across the campus old friends were meeting again, sharing hugs and laughs. First-year students were making new friends and sharing their stories.
And, for now, riding the East-West bus on campus was a joyous adventure, even when it was standing room only.
First-years Paulina Vidriales and George Ofori read each other’s college essays.
Sophomores Tessa Kawall, Chloe Manuelidis and Caraday Martin hug and chat on the Abele Quad.
Nina Wheeler’s Jazz Dance 1 class in the Rubenstein Arts Center.
