“Chart your course,” “map your route,” “embark on your journey,” “see new horizons,” – these and more are the phrases that the College of Saint Elizabeth “Explorientation” were made of…On Wednesday, August 24, 2011 a new adventure – College – began for approximately 200 first-year and transfer CSE students. The College is located at 2 Convent Road, Morristown, N.J.
Armed with an orientation schedule literally presented as a map outlining a three-day excursion, students began a journey filled with moving in, creating time capsules representing their dreams and goals to be opened 100 days before graduation; “New Beginnings Family Blessing;” a Spirit of New Jersey Boat Cruise; a Community Service Project session, and workshops – all designed to get the incoming students to know each other and the College.
CSE President Sr. Francis Raftery notes, “Orientation is informational, enjoyable, and naturally helps students get to know each other, create memories, and have a profound influence on each other as we move forward.”
On Wednesday, students from nearly all the counties in the state, from out of state, and even from other countries including Russia, China, Burma, Tanzania, and more, pulled up to CSE dorms and unpacked not only their belongings, but their dreams. CSE Orientation Staff and Student Leaders were on hand to support and guide students.
Amid the hectic and nervous anticipation, students seemed happy to explore new surroundings, friends, and possibilities. Samantha Weirback, of West Deptford, N.J., ’15, Special and Elementary Education major, and her roommate, Jenae Goodson, of South Plainfield, N.J., ’15, Elementary Education/Early Childhood major, got to know each other. Weirback says she will always be an Eagle, since CSE and her high school both have an eagle as its mascot. While Goodson noted, “I love it at CSE. Everyone is SO welcoming.”
Near the end of the first day, the Family Blessing, in Holy Family Chapel on campus, featured a symbolic lighting of three candles, one representing remembering the past, lit by Jane Bourhill, CSE Assistant Dean of the Women’s College; another giving thanks for the present, lit by Diana Mora, ’12, of Elizabeth, N.J., Communication, Global Studies major; and the third, looking forward to the future, lit by Julie Rodriguez, ’15, Criminal Justice major, from Hoboken, N.J.
During the blessing, Carol Pisani, CSE Special Assistant to the President for Mission, spoke to the new students and their families about dreams about to come true (the future) and dreams that have already become a reality (the CSE College journey). According to Pisani, the journey encompasses vulnerability, trepidation; but also deep anticipation and hope for new life ahead.
Sponsored by the Sisters of Charity of Saint Elizabeth, Convent Station, New Jersey, the College of Saint Elizabeth enrolls more than 2,100 full- and part-time students in more than 25 undergraduate, 10 graduate and one doctoral degree programs. For information on other activities or programs, visit the College of Saint Elizabeth web site at www.cse.edu.
Best of luck to the incoming class of 2015. You can do it!
-Jessica, c/o 2009