Welcome to UCLA. You are about to begin one of the most important, most challenging, most exciting times of your entire life. During the next few years most of you will transition from the last days of the relatively confined, somewhat predictable world of adolescence into the wide-open, unpredictable world of the rest of your life.
It is our job at UCLA as educators and advisers to help you make that transition in a way that is supportive, exhilarating and rich in opportunities for personal growth. And, don’t forget, some of your greatest learning opportunities will come from one another, your fellow students and classmates with whom you will live and study.
The basic job of all students who enter UCLA is to do the very best they can in their academic program. Obviously, this fact means going to class, studying hard, working with professors, and using intelligence to fully understand coursework. This task is something each of you entering UCLA in 2004 is eminently well prepared to do, but, in order to truly make the most of your college experience, you can’t simply allow your effort to rest at that.
The years you spend with us at UCLA will offer the opportunity to become involved in an unmatched variety of activities, programs, campaigns and causes. This time is a span of years unlike any other in your life when you will have the time, the space and the personal latitude to explore all these possibilities.
So take the plunge. Get involved in student leadership opportunities. Join one of our student organizations – there are over 600 of them. Lend a hand in a community service project. Take a canoeing trip on the Colorado River. Learn about internship opportunities. Think about spending a year studying overseas.
Becoming involved outside the classroom certainly takes time and energy, and we understand that these activities should not detract from your academic performance. In fact, they should enhance it. With good management of time, these are the experiences and people that will serve to flesh out the world you find described in your classes, and equally importantly, they will help you learn about yourself.
With the new freedoms and new opportunities you find in college, new responsibilities arrive. At times, these responsibilities can mean new levels of stress for you. We believe we have developed appropriate services to address this potential problem. Please do not hesitate to take advantage of these resources.
We have tutorial programs, student health and psychological services and many other specialized support options. If you’re not sure about where to go, stop by my office, the Dean of Students Office, for a referral. One of the most important responsibilities we have as educators is to help each of you enjoy a productive and positive experience at UCLA.
My final piece of advice to you is simple: Have fun. Go to athletic events. Our men’s and women’s teams compete in over a dozen intercollegiate sports. Work out at the John Wooden Center. Take recreation classes. Watch for concerts and student cultural shows. And remember to give yourself time to enjoy the beauty of the campus and the special place we have here in Westwood.
As the newest members of the Bruin family you are the most recent links in the splendid tradition of UCLA. You will join previous classmates spanning more than eight decades as the leaders of our city, our society and our world.
We will do everything possible to help you prepare to take on that responsibility. We begin this process together today. Congratulations on your enrollment, and best wishes on your academic and personal success.
Naples is the UCLA dean of students.