Editor's note: This guest column is featured in OU Daily's Back to School Guide, which will be available in print in mid-August.
Sooner Nation,
Welcome to the University of Oklahoma! OU has so much in store for all students this academic year, and we are extremely excited to start it with you. You are arriving at a unique time for the university. Sports teams have moved to the Southeastern Conference while the Weitzenhoffer College of Fine Arts is celebrating 100 years of accomplishments. More student housing is currently under construction, and the Max Westheimer Airport just received more funding and a new fleet to expand opportunities for aviation students. That’s only the beginning of what’s happening on campus. The most important thing is the arrival of you and the rest of the Class of 2028.
2023-2024 SGA President Caden Glasscock during the SGA Presidential Inauguration on Dec. 6.
Like many of you, I was anxious about leaving the comfort and familiarity of my life at home. I was unsure of what to expect when I moved into Walker Center. There were not a lot of people I knew during this time, and that made me feel unsure of what the next four years would look like. Now, as I enter my fourth and final year as an undergrad, I can confidently say that choosing to attend OU was the best decision for me. I was meant to study and grow here, and so are you.
There is one piece of advice I wish I could have told myself back in August 2021. If caught earlier, it might have made my journey even more enjoyable. It might make yours better than you are imagining. I would tell my high school self to embrace discomfort.
This campus holds an unimaginable amount of opportunities, new faces and experiences. I encourage you to exit your comfort zone by joining organizations, meeting people of diverse backgrounds and approaching life in different ways. As the flagship university of the state, OU is the proud alma mater of many Okies, but with students from across the country and globe, the University of Oklahoma is a place for everyone to thrive.
Four years sounds like a lifetime at first. I’m sure it felt like that for some of you in high school. I was wrong in applying this same logic to OU. While you’re making new friends, going for late-night drives, studying for midterms, eating at the Caf and walking along the South Oval, take a minute every once in a while to look around at the campus and the people that have—for just a minute—surrounded the formidable years of your lives.
We recognize you chose OU for a reason. That is why the Student Government Association is here to support you, every step of the way. With us, you will always have a friend and advocate on your side. Please reach out to me anytime so OU SGA can help ensure you find your way on campus. I hope you all have a great year, and try not to skip class.
Boomer Sooner!
