A Letter from the Director

Some way somehow, we’ve made it to the final weeks of the semester! We will blink and next thing you know we will be welcoming you all back for spring. Watching our newest first year cohort come into their own, to seeing our seniors begin to figure out what’s next and just witnessing the ups and downs of each unique cohort, I am so humbled to be a part of your journey.

Thinking back to your first day at SMU, many of you were stressed about making friends, juggling all the class work, worried about sharing a room with a new roommate or terrified of missing a class due to crazy traffic commuting in, to missing your family and friends back home, or just stressed about where each building was and what the endless acronyms mean. From ant hills to mountains, you have persevered.

In between these crazy days that seem to never be long enough, you’ve overcome the terror of going to office hours for the first time, you figured out the prime time to go to Fondren Starbucks without being late for class, you finally had that lightbulb moment in your most challenging class, you were selected for that amazing opportunity you’ve been hoping and wishing for, or creating the perfect schedule and actually get into all your first pick classes. All these ups and downs, no matter how big or small will be the priceless memories and moments that will make all your sacrifices worthwhile.

When you look back on your time on the Hilltop, I hope it is filled with wonderful memories, moments of resiliency, joy, success, life lessons, happiness, and gratitude. When you graduate and receive your diploma your name will be the only one that appears, but that does not mean you are expected go through this alone. Please do not forget all the resources and support available at your fingertips. From professors, academic advisors, peers, staff, alumni, family, and others, there is a whole community here for you. Although for some of you Rotunda was something you felt you could only rely on in your first year, please know we are still here rooting for you, and we will continue to do so even beyond graduation.

As we expand to a full-fledged four-year program, I am excited to create more opportunities to catch up and hear all that you have accomplished since our last Academic Success Meeting. Each one of you holds a special place in my heart and will continue to do so even after you walk across that stage. Our Rotunda community is filled with the most diverse, brilliant, creative, and trail blazing students. I am genuinely proud and honored to have been a small part of your journey here and I hope to continue to share many more wonderful memories with you all. As I always told you all in our one-on-one, my door and inbox are always open for whatever you need. I love chatting with each and every one of you, the good, the bad, and the ugly that is life, I am here for it. I want you to never forget your Rotunda family is here for you through it all. Continue to put your best foot forward and know you got this!

Good luck on finals and I hope to catch up at ACE real soon!

Always with love,

Nikole ♡