Four years ago, in the midst of writing essays and compiling college applications, I found myself unsure of where I wanted to spend the next part of my academic career. Overwhelmed by the diversity of schools and by the pile of rejection/waitlist letters, I finally narrowed my choices down to Connecticut College and a college in Boston that specialized in journalism. Driving through Conn on a beautiful fall day was enough to convince me that I wanted to enroll, but I was still torn over the academics. Should I choose the school that would set me on a specific career path, and provide me with skills for a job in the journalism field? Or should I choose the school that would open up a new set of doors and opportunities that I had never considered before? I took a chance on Connecticut College; I took a chance on Liberal Arts.
Flash forward to this fall. As I sit in the Voice office late on a Sunday night, I realize that by choosing Conn, I’ve received the best of both worlds: a challenging, yet rewarding interdisciplinary education and the opportunity to learn and create with my peers on the newspaper. As I’ve explored various intellectual interests over the past three years, I have grown in more ways than I can count: I’ve uncovered new interests, honed old passions and met an incredible number of fascinating, intelligent people. I’d like to think that what I’ve put into my Liberal Arts education, I’ve gotten back twofold.
Now, in my last year as an undergraduate, I have eight months before I walk across the stage alongside the class of 2014. But when we reach that milestone, we won’t be receiving our diplomas from President Higdon. Come January, Connecticut College will see its current president step down, and a new leader with new visions and ideas will assume the role. Both Conn and I are going through transitional stages; it’s reassuring to know I’m not alone.
Last Thursday, Connecticut College held a welcome ceremony for President-elect Katherine Bergeron, who will succeed President Higdon at the beginning of January as the College’s eleventh president. Bergeron, a graduate of Wesleyan University, is a strong proponent of the Liberal Arts, and in her speech commended Connecticut College on its long history of forward-thinking initiatives and programs, stemming from a rich history of a “progressive vision of an education that would be not just learned but useful.” In particular, Bergeron cited our CELS program as a prime example of “Liberal Arts in action.”
There are many Liberal Arts colleges across America, and quite a few NESCACs right in our own backyard, but as I’ve come to realize over the past few years, Connecticut College is more than just another Liberal Arts college. It’s a dynamic, diverse institution with progressive roots; passionate, creative individuals; and endless opportunities to put our skills into action. As Bergeron explained, Connecticut College for Women was created for “a new century,” and even though it’s been over 40 years since we’ve dropped the “for Women,” the idea of being an institution designed for a new century still remains relevant.
Since its beginning, Conn has been a college dedicated not only to educating women (and later, men) but also preparing them for a competitive workforce. Today, Connecticut College still lives by that mission statement; our Liberal Arts education provides us with a broad range of skills applicable in a wide array of careers and fields. As Bergeron described it, Conn produces “not only thinkers, but doers.” And CELS, which is a program that not many other colleges can boast, helps those doers translate their skills into the working world, the world outside the bubble.
To prepare for her new role, Bergeron has been researching and learning about Conn. The more she learns, the more impressed she is with our institution. During her speech, she mentioned stories she has heard: “stories of a transformative education, of world-class faculty committed to teaching, of creative students committed to changing the world, of staff members committed to excellence, and of a community committed to the powers of collective thinking and shared governance.”
Connecticut College has a long history as a progressive Liberal Arts institution, as a place for rigorous, transformative higher learning and community spirit. During his seven years here, President Higdon has helped uphold those characteristics that make Conn such a special place, and after hearing her speak on several occasions, I have no doubt that President-elect Bergeron will do the same.
