There is nowhere to park, traffic is backed up to the main gate, and tours are everywhere you turn. There are countless distractions in the library, a flood of people buying their new Marist sweatshirts in the bookstore, every seat is taken in the dining hall, and don’t even think about going to McCann! Hancock is referred to as Hogwarts countless times, parents are constantly asking questions, and students are checking out your dorm at the crack of dawn. This can only mean one thing…the Open House Weekend for Accepted Students is upon us once again!
Although you may have just rolled your eyes, possibly sighed, and figured out your escape route from campus for this weekend, remember that we were all in these soon-to-be students’ shoes at one point. Although chaotic, this weekend belongs to the students and the families coming here from all around the world. We can all think back to that time when our parents dragged us to Marist first thing in the morning. You definitely tried the dining hall food, listened to DJM’s welcome speech, and attended the various departments’ presentations. There were people you recognized from your class Facebook group saying hello to you and you probably even took your first photo with Shooter.
As silly as this all sounds, the Open House Weekend for Accepted Students must have had some impact on you if you are currently a Marist student. Maybe it was the day that you fell in love with the view of the Hudson River. You could have enjoyed the company of current students out on Marist Beach, or maybe there was a student who gave you directions or made you feel at home. No matter what it was, there was something that made Marist the perfect fit for you. Although we all know Marist is the obvious choice, many of these students aren’t 100% sure yet and it is up to us to show them what we’re all about.
Try to go out of your way this weekend to help a student out. If you see a clueless family walking by, give them directions! Do something that will leave a positive impact on the potential students here this weekend; with luck, you will be helping them make the best decision of their life. We all fell in love with Marist, so let’s give these prospective students the same opportunity to discover the beauty, happiness, and excitement that Marist has to offer. Have some enthusiasm, wear your favorite Marist apparel, put on a smile, and let’s show these high schoolers why they want to be Red Foxes!
Photo credit: Nicole Knoebel