As a Shocker for the past few years of my life, it has become quite easy for me to tell the difference between the first days of fall semester and the rest of the days. And now it is that time of the year again.
The days where you see freshmen, with maps in their hands, wandering around campus. The days where there are a lot of attractions around campus all day every day, thanks to the Student Activities Council. The days student group organizers try to make eye contact with you and hand you their flyers.
Working in the Rhatigan Student Center for the past two summers, I have really enjoyed the transition of the RSC from a ghost town to a place where I see fellow students everywhere I look. It seems like I always wait for the summer when spring semester rolls around, but when summer begins, August cannot come soon enough.
It all started five years ago, when I was a junior in high school in my hometown, Ankara, Turkey. I applied to be an exchange student to come to the United States. Little did I know, I would live in Wichita, Kansas, for one year to attend high school and liked it so much that I would return to Wichita to become a Shocker and eventually become the student body president.
I could not be happier with the way things worked out the way they did. Ending up at Wichita State University and becoming a Shocker has already changed my life in many great ways, and I am certain that it will continue to impact me in my remaining years as an undergraduate. There are a lot of reasons to be excited to be a Shocker and to look forward to the start of the school year.
Seeing all my friends and fraternity brothers again and being able to pick up The Sunflower newspaper more than once a week are a few of the things that excite me about the start of the school year. I am sure other students have their own reasons to get excited for the school year, as well.
This is going to be one of those years again in which students will be able to benefit from the great location of our university and land internships with major companies. Our sports teams will be successful, as they always are. During basketball games, students will continue to distract the opponents’ free throwers.
Our one-of-a-kind, bundle of wheat mascot, WuShock, will give high fives and hugs to students on campus. Shocktoberfest, Homecoming, Hippodrome … there are just so many things for Shockers to look forward to.
Recently, I had the honor of being one of the emcees for Convocation, which reminded me of everything that I love about Wichita State. I do not know where to start. Seeing the largest number of students I have ever seen at Convocation; listening to the speeches our faculty, administration, and alumni gave; watching the amazing performances from our dancers, cheerleaders and our band; and recognizing our athletic teams for their great accomplishments (of which there were plenty) was absolutely inspiring.
Getting a free T-shirt in the end accentuated an already incredible experience. It is easy to say that convocation filled my fellow students and me with school spirit, and I cannot think of a better way to begin the semester.
Being a Shocker has influenced me so much that in coming years as an undergraduate and future years as an alumnus, I hope to come back and tell students how much it means to be a Shocker and share school spirit.
