Updated as of 2:56 p.m. on Aug. 23 to include video from the event.
Student Government Association President Anya Bratić urged freshmen to see failure as an opportunity rather than a downfall during her speech at New Student Convocation on Aug. 23.
“I want to talk about something that I’ve spent most of my life trying to avoid: failure,” Bratić said in her address. “I know you just got here and you don’t want to talk about failing, but I also don’t want you to think that I ended up here on this stage because everything magically went right for me or that I knew what I was doing from day one.”
The message resonated with freshman Anna Daley.
“The speech about failing was really cool and important,” Daley said in an interview with Elon News Network. “It was good to see that you can struggle and still have a successful time in college.”
Convocation recognized 1504 new undergraduates and 85 transfer students. University President Connie Book addressed the audience and introduced Elon traditions including Lights and Luminaries, College Coffee and receiving an acorn.
“You are truly just a part of Elon that we do not know yet, and that is about to change today,” Book said during her speech. “You will receive an acorn, a symbol of the mighty oaks under which we sit. An acorn, a seed that needs to be planted in order to prosper.”
Freshman Chris Hexter is looking forward to keeping his acorn through graduation and reflecting on his time at Elon.
“I really like the acorns because it's something you have to keep and hold on to,” Hexter said during an interview with Elon News Network. “If you keep it the whole time, it will be imbued with the memories you’ve made along the way. A lot of people will forget things, but if they have a memento of the occasion, it helps them remember.”
Book also pushed students to take charge of their own college experiences and develop self-motivation during her speech to the class of 2029.
“This enormous opportunity of an Elon education requires action on your part,” Book said. “A commitment to taking full advantage of all we have here. It is a simple truth about personal leadership that it is needed to be successful. The personal leadership that says, ‘I’m going to be focused on what I want and what I want to become.’”
Meg Jordan '97, a parent of a new student and Elon alum, echoed Book’s advice for her daughter.
“Use the resources on campus,” Jordan said in an interview with Elon News Network. “My experience here was really good. I felt supported not just by faculty but student life, campus life, activities. So we’re hoping our daughter will get connected soon and really feel that Elon bond.”
At the end of her speech, Bratić encouraged students to not be afraid of new experiences in the chance that they end in failure.
“Courage doesn’t replace fear, they coexist. So I’d like to let you in on a little secret: you are going to fail during your time at Elon,” Bratić said. “You might experience a little bit of pain but it will also be a gift. When you stumble, know that you are in good company and that there are resources and mentors to help you get back on your feet.”