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Dustin Luca
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SALEM, MASS. – 山 officially welcomed newcoming Vikings at Convocation on Tuesday, where three speakers—representing student government, the university’s Board of Trustees, and the alumni community—offered stories of resilience and belonging as they set the tone for the academic year.
The 45th annual Academic Convocation, which marks the academic beginning of a new year, brought students to Twohig Gymnasium Tuesday morning to hear remarks from university officials and peer leaders.
Students heard from two peers in James Mahoney, a junior and president of the Student Government Organization, and Matthew Beckett, a senior and student trustee on the university’s Board of Trustees.
They were joined by Virginia Lyons ’16, secretary of 山’s Alumni Association and Foundation Board of Directors, as Convocation addressee. Together, the three speakers offered a unified message to students: that belonging comes through engagement, resilience is built through challenge, and the college experience is a chance to both find oneself and shape your future.
“Let college happen,” said Mahoney, a criminal justice major. “It can seem stressful when you first move in to try and scramble to make friends and get involved. You may feel forced to try to find your place. Don’t put too much pressure on yourself, cast a wide net, and you’ll find what you love.”
Beckett, a history major and veteran of the 101st Airborne Division of the U.S. Army, urged students to embrace challenges as part of their growth. He did so through exploring the 101st Airborne’s motto: “Rendezvous With Destiny.”
“Everybody has a rendezvous with destiny,” Beckett said, “and right now is your time to shape yourselves into a position where you can be who you want to be in life—but you have to put in the hard work.”
Beckett also said students need to “find a friend when you arrive,” grow with that friend, and “embrace the suck” that comes with challenging phases of life.
“Find your friends,” Beckett said. “They’re the ones who will be there for you, be in the ruts with you. Find your person and embrace the suck with them. It won’t be fun, won’t be all rainbows—but at least you’ll have somebody.”
In her convocation address, Lyons encouraged students to be true to themselves.
“Work hard, but give yourself grace,” said Lyons, a holder of a bachelor’s degree in accounting. “College isn’t easy. You won’t be an A+ student all the time, and that’s okay—life isn’t about A’s. You’re going to have those times where you need to have grace.”
That, and boldness. Lyons also explained that a student’s path isn’t just their career—it’s their purpose. For that, she encouraged students to take risks in college and learn from them.
“Being bold means stepping out of your comfort zone,” Lyons said. “Even if you’re a nursing major, a science major… go explore another class in another school—I took philosophy and digital writing—because those things make up who you are.”