Welcome, Class of 2028 and All New Students!
(Dean Michele Bowie leads Class of 2028 and New Students into Notre Dame Chapel for the New Student Convocation, August 23, 2024)
Remarks of President Patricia McGuire at the New Student Convocation
Good morning! I am so pleased to welcome you, the Class of 2028 and all new students in the College of Arts & Sciences to our 2024 New Student Convocation, a ceremony marking the end of your orientation period and your official welcome into the Trinity community. During this ceremony, you will sign the Honor Pledge and receive your Trinity medals, special symbols of your new lives as Trinity Women. Congratulations!
I want to start by telling you a little bit about … YOU! We are welcoming more than 500 new students in all Trinity programs this fall, and of that number, more than 300 are new in the College of Arts and Sciences, Trinity’s historic women’s college. You are a Red Class, continuing a strong tradition of class colors dating back to our very first class — the Red Class of 1904. Some of you have transferred from other colleges, and depending on your class, your colors are (green if you are juniors, blue if you are seniors, and gold for the sophomores)… and if you are still not sure, you are always correct to wear purple and gold, Trinity’s school colors!
You come from many different states, with 63% from DC and 24% from Maryland.
While most of you were born in the United States, you also hail from more than 20 other countries including:
El Salvador Mexico Ethiopia Honduras Guatemala Nigeria Haiti Cameroon Thailand Togo Liberia Peru Brazil Colombia Dominica Ecuador Gambia UK Saudi Arabia Equatorial Guinea
14 of you are Dreamer Scholars through our partnership with TheDream.US
21 of you are Conway Scholars in Nursing, a very prestigious scholarship
8 of you earned your associate degree in May as part of our Early College Academy with Coolidge High School. We have a number of other students from Coolidge as well.
Other schools that are well-represented in this class include:
Jackson Reed Capital City PCS Theodore Roosevelt Columbia Heights
Banneker DC International Thurgood Marshall EL Haynes
Eastern Dunbar Friendship Collegiate KIPP DC
H.D. Woodson Springbrook Largo Montgomery Blair
Ballou Cardozo Eleanor Roosevelt McKinley Tech
Duval Northwestern Washington Leadership Paul PCS
35% of you want to study Nursing and other healthcare fields like Occupational Therapy, Health Services and Social Work.
21% of you are just about evenly split between wanting to pursue Psychology or Business.
12% of you want to major in STEM disciplines including Biology, Biochemistry, Forensic Science and Mathematics.
5% aspire to be teachers, wanting to major in one of our Education specialties.
You may well change your mind about what you want to study as you move through your first and second years, that’s normal, and we encourage you to explore all of the subjects in our curriculum so you can discover new ideas while developing your future plans.
So, that’s a little bit about you. Now, we are going to have a ceremony in which you take the Honor Pledge and receive your Trinity medals. At the end of the ceremony I will have more to say about you.
(Dean Bowie leads students in reciting the Honor Pledge)
THE HONOR AGREEMENT AND MEDAL CEREMONY
The Honor Agreement has been our tradition since the founding of Trinity. We expect you to live lives of honor and integrity, and to help each other to do so. This sets Trinity apart from many other schools and many places of business today.
You are starting your academic lives at Trinity in a time fraught with national concern over racial hatred and symbols of egregious racism, over the treatment of immigrants and extreme bias against persons for other reasons — Muslims, gay or transgender individuals, persons whose beliefs, language, culture customs, skin color or political beliefs seem different from those who claim center stage. The mission and values of Trinity, as embodied in our Honor System, reject any and all acts and words of hatred against other individuals; we welcome, honor and respect everyone here at Trinity and we expect you to treat every other person you encounter here with the respect and dignity they deserve.
This is the essence of the Honor Code, along with, of course, a deep commitment to being truthful in everything.
As part of this ceremony you will also receive the Trinity Medal, a symbol of your entrance into the Trinity community and commitment to the values of the Honor System.
The Trinity Medal has, on its front, the image of Our Lady – Notre Dame – the patron of the Sisters of Notre Dame who founded Trinity in 1897. In those days, women did not have the opportunity to go to college in Washington, D.C. The Sisters of Notre Dame saw that was wrong, a grave injustice, so they worked hard to establish Trinity. Your Trinity Medals are symbols — symbols of the power of women to change the world. Wear them well, wear them with pride, never do anything to disgrace them, show the world why you have the distinction as a woman of power to wear this medal starting today and every day henceforth!
To conduct this part of the program, I am pleased to recognize Sr. Ann Howard is a Sister of Notre Dame who is the Director of Campus Ministry and she will bless you and your medals. Dean of Students Meechie Bowie will lead you in the Honor Pledge.
(Director of Campus Ministry Sr. Ann Howard, SND, addresses the new students and blesses their Trinity medals)
Greetings and Blessing by Sr. Ann Howard, SND, Campus Minister
Good morning, students who are new to Trinity! Buenos dias y bienvenito!
Welcome to Notre Dame Chapel. We are celebrating 100 years since the dedication of this beautiful chapel which took place in 1924. There are so many parts to this chapel we want to make known to you, so please come for a tour once you get your feet on the ground. One statue I will point out to you is this one… of St. Julie Billiart… she lived in France and Belgium, she started the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, she is shown here standing with a young girl while pointing to the Bible, signifying her love of God and her belief in the education of girls and women. St. Julie had a saying, “Ah! Qu’il est bon, le bon Dieu!” which, translated, means, “Oh! How Good God is!”
God is so good! God’s goodness and beauty and truth lives in each one of you, and in all of the Trinity community. Julie Billiart and her friend, Francois Blin de Bourdon lived in the time of the Reign of Terror in France and, once they established schools and a congregation, their love for God remained their stronghold. Years later, in 1897, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur built Trinity College in Washington DC, and then Emmanuel College in Boston and Notre Dame de Namur University in Belmont CA. Also, in Okayama, Japan, Seishen University was built by our Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur, and is very active today. Another thing about the SNDdeN which will interest you is that we have a Representative at the United Nations, Sr. Isabelle, and she worked with Professor Allen Pietrobon last year to organize a group of Trinity students to visit the UN. We are mindful of the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur and grateful for their continuing contributions to the good works at Trinity. As President McGuire told you, already, this is Trinity’s 125th year of being! God is so good!
Attending classes in Payden Academic Center, you might get the impression that you are joining a new and shining institution, filled with the latest technology and research capability; please let the wooden floors and marble corridors of Main Hall and this Chapel—remind you of the long herstory, prestigious reputation and visionary mission that Trinity holds throughout these many years.
Starting out at Trinity, prioritize your goals, focus on your academic success: you may have a job to perform, a family to support, volunteer service commitments, friendships to nurture, relationships that call on your time and energy, but attending class and doing the work involved in full-time study is your responsibility at this juncture of your life. May I remind you that the responsibility of a college student is first and foremost to cultivate the tender shoot of your college experience and focus on your academic goals for academic success and graduation.
Now, let us bless your medals and may the Good God bless you, one and all.
AIH, Notre Dame Chapel
First Year Convocation
August 23, 2024
FINAL REFLECTIONS by President McGuire
Before we conclude our ceremony, I want to say a few more words about you. I will be quoting from some of your application essays — not by name, and I have taken out references that might identify you. But your words are powerful to inspire us as we start our new lives together.
You have had more than your share of challenges. You have crossed borders and confronted prejudice and ethnic hatred, you have survived earthquakes and homelessness. You have lost parents and loved ones, suffered your own illnesses, dealt with families torn apart by violence, incarceration, deportation.
And yet, you have triumphed. You are now Trinity Women! In spite of all these hardships, setbacks and doubts, you powered on through, you showed a level of courage and resilience well beyond your years.
(All paragraphs below in quotes and italics are taken from entering student essays, slightly edited to preserve anonymity.)
Many of you write about your passion to improve the lives of children and families in your neighborhoods.
This student wants to study Early Childhood Education for a great reason:
“Every kid, in my opinion, should have access to a safe, nurturing environment where they may play, explore, and grow into their unique abilities. … Growing up in D.C influenced this a lot … My heart breaks watching the younger kids in my neighborhood walking around alone with no parents at such young ages, and struggling with simple skill sets. By starting a daycare, I would have the opportunity to positively impact the lives of children and their families, helping them navigate their early years and providing a foundation for their future success.”
And this one:
“I am interested in Early Childhood Education because I have come to the realization that my purpose in life is to teach, nurture and make a difference in young children’s schooling. As a young girl, I always dreamed of being an influential role model to young people. I also chose this career program because as a little girl, I did not have the nurturing and understanding that I do now have for young children. As times change, I believe we as a society have to change the way we nurture and teach our children of today and I strongly believe I can help make that difference.”
This student experienced oppression and violence in her native country and now wants to raise up the need for improved mental health services:
“I come from a community with a vibrant blend of history, culture, and unwavering spirit. However, the existence of mental health issues is rarely acknowledged. My passion for becoming a psychologist got engraved in my heart as early as my freshman year of high school when my eyes were opened to how much people were suffering with the lack of knowledge of what they were suffering from.”
This student sees Occupational Therapy as a way to help others:
“In high school I ran track and managed my basketball team. I enjoyed learning about the sport and being able to witness all of the work that gets put in by the players and coaches behind the scenes to make a good team. Since then I knew I wanted to have a career that allowed me to be hands on and help people. With the occupational therapy program at Trinity Washington I see an opportunity to have that career.”
Nearly half of you want to be nurses, and this student’s essay succinctly explains why:
“This nursing program will give me the opportunity to make decisions that will change people lives. I am dedicated to the cause, and I believe that nursing is more than a career path, it is a calling for select superheroes who will never wear capes.”
And another:
“Nursing is one of the most important jobs one can choose. It is a profession not for those motivated by money but by care and concern for others’ lives and well-being. Nursing provides the opportunity to demonstrate human compassion to others in their time of need. You connect with people you would never have known and see the world from someone else’s perspective. You advocate for those who cannot advocate for themselves, and you see firsthand how a small act of kindness—as small as holding someone’s hand—can make a world of difference in someone’s day and recovery. As Maya Angelou said, “They may forget your name, but they will never forget how you made them feel.” ”
This student wants to make her contributions in science and research:
“As I stand at the threshold of my academic journey, I am filled with an intense passion to embark on the path of becoming a research scientist. Growing up and being drawn to investigative properties or wanting to gain knowledge on science-based issues has always been exciting and intriguing. The prospect of delving into the unknown, pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and making meaningful contributions to society through scientific inquiry ignites a fire within me that propels me forward.”
You have learned to conquer fears and academic as well as personal challenges:
This student had a fear of public speaking:
“Overcoming this challenge was not only crucial for academic success but also for building self-confidence, improving communication skills, and developing the ability to convey my thoughts effectively. …Through resilience, a growth mindset, self-awareness, perseverance, and adaptability, I was able to overcome my fear and develop effective communication skills. These lessons will serve me well in college and beyond…”
This student wants to prove the naysayers wrong:
“My grandparents are not college graduates, and neither are my parents so I would love to achieve this and become a trailblazer in my family. I want to make my parents, my grandparents, and my siblings proud of my accomplishments and prove negative naysayers wrong. There is a stigma in the African American community that implies that young ladies with my cultural background and young ladies whose parents are not college graduates will not graduate high school or college and more than likely will become statistics. I am determined to not only exceed my parents’ high expectations, but I would love to prove society wrong. ”
This student wants to start her own business to serve Black Women who are under-served in local communities:
“I am fortunate to have been influenced by powerful black women that continuously inspired dignity, determination, and hope in me. Therefore, I want to show the world that a black woman like me who lives on the margins can own a thriving business that supports her community and become very successful. … My success will enable me to help change the trajectory of women by providing them confidence and hope so that they too can be an example for the next generation. … I will use my time in college to get my bachelor’s degree in business and build a network of peers driven to break the glass ceiling as black female business owners. It is my belief that together we can change the institutional racism, sexism, and separatism that prevents talented people from realizing their dreams.”
Many of you wrote about the challenges you have faced as immigrants to the US:
“When I arrived in this country at the age of two, the challenge of picking up a new language became my early life’s adventure. …Leaving our homeland wasn’t just a change of scenery; it was our way of dodging poverty and an unequal education system. Picture this: every single day, my mom would nudge me to keep my cultural roots under wraps. Why? Well, the fear of being deported haunted us like a ghost, and keeping our immigrant status on the down-low became a daily ritual. Living as an undocumented immigrant has been my life’s Everest, shaping the way I see the world and pushing me to prove my value every step of the way.”
This student describes the feelings of disruption and loss that leaving her native country triggered in her:
“We left to come to the United States, and my life changed completely. We left everything behind my family, my friends, my country, my people. This journey made me realize that not everything was going to be easy. There were so many moments when I felt alone, and I felt like there wasn’t any motivation to keep fighting for my future. I just wanted to go back to my country, to the people and places I knew. …I’ve learned that moving out of your native country is not easy, but every day I wake up and remind myself why I’m here and why my family moved here. …Leaving my mother country was one of the hardest decisions my parents had to make, but I know that this was the best choice because it’s changed my life.”
Many of you are from El Salvador, and this student writes poetically of her vision of the present and hopes for the future:
“The spirit of my people perseveres in this delicate dance between hopelessness and will. As a Latina from El Salvador, I bear witness to these young souls, whose hopes and dreams are delicate butterflies waiting to take flight. I see glimpses of a better future in their eyes, one in which poverty and having to work to help family income will only be a thing of the past. …I too, am part of this intricate story, and it is my duty to sow the seeds of change…. We must not let the songs of these children go unheard, their dreams unfulfilled. It is up to us all to provide them with the opportunity to grow and flourish. In the heart of El Salvador, where the sun and moon play hide and seek, I discover my purpose. I am the weaver of a brighter future for the country I call home, the keeper of the hopes and dreams that the children in poverty have in their hearts.”
This student wants to study Criminal Justice so she can help young people stay out of trouble:
“ [After graduation] I would like to get a job as a juvenile probation officer. I want to become a juvenile probation officer because I want to be able to help juveniles be able to get back on track instead of going down a path that is not good for them. I want to be someone they can look up to show them that there are good things for them if they go down the right path. Also, I can help them realize that there are better things for them than what they are doing to end up in the presence of a probation officer. I want to be someone that can help them turn their life around instead of criticizing the decisions that they chose to make.”
You want to work for racial justice:
“From as far back as I can remember, I’ve always challenged why things in this world were done the way they were. …I soon found that every black person no matter their age had my same inquiries. It’d be quite peculiar to be black and not question our existence in this country. What role we play, what’s expected of us, and how to break out of this horrid monolith we find ourselves in. I dug deeper into law and that’s where my voice grows the loudest. …The amount of racism in legislation that goes unnoticed by most people hurts my heart. My curiosity turned history lesson was followed up with rebellion that now fuels my activism. There lies my love for Criminal Justice. There needs to be more black representation in a field where we are misrepresented. A voice that speaks up for us instead of against us.”
And so it is that you are starting your new academic lives at Trinity in Washington, in the nation’s capital, at a university with a long history of women’s public leadership, and at a time of tremendous political ferment, hope and opportunity for our nation and all of us. Our nation right now is engaged in what may well be the most remarkable presidential campaign in our history, a campaign that sets out stark choices for our future. Not one of us can sit back and be a bystander — if you are an American citizen, you must register to vote and then VOTE. If you are not a citizen, you can still be politically engaged and work for the candidate of your choice. Every single one of us has a choice, and it’s up to each of us to choose how to exercise that choice, and we must respect whatever each one chooses. What we cannot afford, must not tolerate, is apathy, disengagement, a sense of hopelessness. In the words of former First Lady Michelle Obama earlier this week, each and every one of us needs to DO SOMETHING to make sure our freedoms and democracy remain strong.
Former President Barack Obama also spoke the other night and he put it this way:
“We believe that true freedom gives each of us the right to make decisions about our own life – how we worship, what our family looks like, how many kids we have, who we marry. And we believe that freedom requires us to recognize that other people have the freedom to make choices that are different than ours….
At Trinity, you will be surrounded by great diversity and we will expect you to respect the values, custom, beliefs and choices of all others; these are fundamental values to ensure a healthy, peaceful democracy.
President Obama went on:
“Democracy isn’t just a bunch of abstract principles and dusty laws. It’s the values we live by, and the way we treat each other – including those who don’t look like us or pray like us or see the world exactly like we do…. No nation, no society, has ever tried to build a democracy as big and diverse as ours before – one where our allegiances and our community are defined not by race or blood, but by a common creed. That’s why when we uphold our values, the world’s a little brighter….America can be, must be, a force for good – discouraging conflict, fighting disease, promoting human rights, protecting the planet from climate change, defending freedom.”
These are also values and dispositions that we hope will grow in and with you during your Trinity years.
You now join a long line of activists and women leaders who have proudly carried the mission and values of Trinity into this world. For 125 years, Trinity has educated the next generations of citizen leaders, teachers, advocates and activists, corporate entrepreneurs and nonprofit innovators, nurses and doctors and practitioners of the healing arts, women determined to make this world a happier, healthier, more just and free place. Their presence, their hard work, their strong voices and clear influence have, indeed, changed our world.
The first women who did that here were the Founders of Trinity, the Sisters of Notre Dame de Namur. 125 years ago, a small group of very courageous women started their own revolution for justice. These women, religious sisters, certainly did not think of themselves as radicals, and yet look at this room today, a room they could not have imagined in the segregated world of 1897 —but they would be so proud of you today!
We are here today because those women had a powerful, unyielding belief in the right and necessity of higher education for women, and all of us who are their heirs have reaped so many benefits from their courage.
As their heirs, we are also champions for justice not only for women but for persons of color, for immigrants, for our LGBTQ sisters and brothers, for persons who are marginalized and oppressed in this nation and around the world. Because of this mission commitment, rooted in the Catholic idea of social justice, we are proud to welcome you in all of your glorious diversity of race and ethnicity and nationality and language and customs and beliefs. Your diversity makes Trinity stronger, illuminates all of our lives, teaching the members of this campus community how to build a good society in the world beyond Michigan Avenue — a world that desperately needs leaders who know the true meaning of justice and seek to extend its life-giving meaning to every person on this small planet.
As you leave this Chapel today, wearing your Trinity medals proudly, go with the blessings of the Trinity. May you find the strength, the wisdom and the love of the Trinity as inspiration, support and a call to action each day.
Congratulations!
