Whew! The first day of classes for the Fall 2011 semester proved to be a busy one around the Randolph College campus. Here are a few thoughts from some students who stopped to talk about the first day.
By 11 a.m., Brittney Via ’14 already had homework. After Differential Equations and Social Psychology, she sat down to take a break and enjoy the late morning weather.
“It’s been pretty busy, with a lot of work already,” said the mathematics major from Charlottesville, VA. “I think it’s good to start right off the bat.”
Tu Nguyen ’15, an international student from Vietnam, said he was caught off guard when his French professor started class by speaking only in French for several minutes. “We couldn’t understand any of it,” he said, but he looks forward to learning the language.
Nguyen also had attended a calculus class in the morning, and in the early afternoon he was heading to a physics class in the Martin Science building. He had not had time to socialize with his classmates much, but he was enjoying his first day at Randolph College. “The professors are really nice,” he said.
Xavier Suarez ‘12 was rushing to the Smith Memorial Building for his second class of the day, but he paused a moment in the bright sunshine to express good feelings for the first day of his last year as an undergraduate student. “It’s been great. It’s been a nice day,” said the communications studies major.
“People are excited to go to class,” said Suarez, who is from Costa Rica.
Faculty enjoyed the day as they got to meet their pupils, returning and new. Marjorie Wheeler-Barclay, a history professor, said her class on the history of England got off to a good start. “I had a lovely group,” she said.
After going over the syllabus for the semester, she asked the students to discuss their current perceptions of England in the 13th through 18th centuries. “They really got into it. They were very lively, and not too shy,” she said. “It’s always great when student seem pleased to be there. I sensed a good energy in the room.”
That’s just a short summary of the first day of the academic year—with more than 560 students enrolled, there are at least that many stories. But if these tales of the first day of the semester is any indicator, 2011–2012 will be a great year!
