Approximately 1,100 under- and upperclassmen gathered on the Lower Quad on Monday to celebrate First Night, the annual ceremony of officially inducting freshmen into the student body.
The event, held on the evening of the first day of school, hence its name, began with speeches by four members of the Student Government Association, followed by a candle-lighting ritual and individual class parties held at different locations on-campus.
As the first to stand before the crowd, Mark Dirzulaitis, the president of SGA, offered words of welcome and good will to the newly-enrolled class of 2014.
“I wanted to give a warm welcome to the freshmen,” Dirzulaitis said later, recalling his time at the podium.
“They’ve probably already been welcomed by faculty members and RAs; I think it was about time they were welcomed by the rest of the school.”
Dirzulaitis’ remarks were followed by those of Alexandra Larsen, president of the sophomore class. In her speech, she focused on giving advice to the freshman class based on her personal experience.
“When I thinking about what to talk about up there, I asked myself, ‘What did I wish I had known? If I really cared, if this was my best friend, what would I tell her? How could I best help her adjust to Hopkins?’ I really wrote the speech from my heart,” Larsen said.
The result was a string of genuine words of wisdom aimed to get the freshmen off to a successful start at Hopkins.
Her first point of advice concerned the importance of keeping up the academic rigor freshmen so easily lose in their first semester at Hopkins, due to covered grades.
She explained that becoming academically lethargic in during that time can be more damaging than it seems.
“The emotional stress of going from an A student to a C student because of covered grades is a risk not worth taking,” she said in her speech.
Larsen’s second point of advice to the freshman class was that of maintaining good health, especially at a time when partying and having fun might seem more appealing than eating and sleeping well.
“It is important to stay healthy and strong in college,” she said. “There’s so much to do, so much to take advantage of, but you can’t do anything when you’re sick. Keep good studying and sleeping habits, so you can do everything you want to do.”
At the end of each class president’s speech, the corresponding class lit up their candles, which were handed out earlier.
When all of the upperclassmen’s candles were lit, the SGA president gave the cue for the upperclassmen to pass on the flame to the freshmen.
The lights multiplied swiftly in the dark, and soon hundreds of lights shone brightly.
To add to the experience, the Gilman Tower bells rang throughout the duration of the candle-lighting ceremony.
When all candles were lit, the students raised them in unison and let out a cheer.
“The candles represent the unity of the student body,” Rachel Navarre, coordinator of campus programming in the Office of Student Life, said.
“The Gilman Tower bells are ringing, there are hundreds of bright candles brimming in the dark, and it’s just a beautiful experience, and you’re here, you’re part of the experience,” she explained.
“I feel like it provides an opportunity for upperclassmen to really make the freshmen feel part of the student body,” Navarre said.
“I think this year’s First Night ceremony was very successful. It has grown into an integral part of the Hopkins tradition,” she added.
And indeed it has. Since its inception last year, First Night has grown in size and, more importantly, is slowly being recognized as a tradition.
“I think it’s a great tradition. It’s a lovely reception, welcoming freshmen into your community like that,” Larsen said.
“The candles being lit and raised up like that, it gives you pride that you go to Hopkins.”
“It’s hard to start tradition, but the First Night ceremony is picking up speed,” Dirzulaitis commented.
“It’s become a big event that everyone enjoys, an event through which everyone can kick off the year together. Keep the sentiment that we have this year, and we’re moving in the right direction.”
That sentiment of acceptance as a tradition was definitely shared by the upperclassmen.
Senior Aliyah Sanders said that she had a good time at First Night.
“It was good to see everyone again at one place,” she said.
“Also, the event in general was run pretty well. Everyone got candles, and it was cool to see the flames being passed,” she added.
Junior Yang Bai agreed.
“[First Night] is definitely taking its place as a tradition, a way to embrace the freshman class,” he said.
“It was an amazing experience, and I hope future generations can share it with us.”
But arguably the students most affected by the ceremony were the freshmen.
“It was nice to have everyone at once, at the start of the semester,” freshman Clea Baumhofer said.
“All the upperclassmen were there. All the freshmen were there. It was very intimate.”
For some freshmen, First Night really made them feel part of the community.
“It made it official that we were starting at Hopkins,” freshman Jackie Heath said.
“There was a lot of unity throughout all the grades; I felt part of the student body.”
Senior Aliyah Sanders was uncertain about the event itself, but spoke positively of the endeavor to make new traditions for students.
“I don’t think it’s the most effective way . . . but I do think it’s good that Hopkins is creating a tradition,” she said.
Overall, First Night seems to be becoming a strong new tradition.
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