The gift of the freshmen

As for the smaller things, many freshmen have absolutely no idea what they’re doing! This seemingly “negative” quality is actually one of the most fantastic ones that Princeton students possess. When you have students with such diverse interests as those of many of our future classes and Princeton’s fertile soil for the cultivation of those interests, there’s no telling in what crazy directions these young men and women will grow. I’ve met an aspiring engineer with a profound interest in the fine arts, a dancer with an eye for molecular biology, a Jewish philosopher with a penchant for the German language and many more besides.

Furthermore, from this period of turmoil and lack of direction springs some of our most astonishing growth. Watching this growth in others is among the most enjoyable things for me to have witnessed this year, as it prompts a reflection on the changes I have undergone and continue to undergo as a student of this institution. Observing the formation and maturation of members of the freshman class has awakened me to the maturation that I have been experiencing myself — well, to an extent. But this openness to new interests is by no means the only thing that makes freshmen so remarkable.

Whether on the soccer field, under the stage lights or in student government, many freshmen throw themselves willingly into the sea of extracurriculars that Princeton has to offer. The heart of many student groups on campus is in their underclassmen. Due to Princeton’s academic structure and the presence of all-consuming independent work in the latter years, freshmen tend to comprise a significant portion of the incredible organizations which Princeton has to offer.

Academics are all well and good, but the extracurricular activities are really what make Princeton so special and memorable to its undergraduates and alumni. It seems like every weekend I go to a different show or student-run event and am continually blown away, not only by the quality of the end product but by the integral part that freshmen play in the realization. Without freshmen, many student activities would either cease to exist or become entirely crippled.

But of all the things that freshmen bring to the table, there is one above all that inspires my affection: The energy, optimism and general exuberance that they have upon their arrival at Princeton are absolutely contagious. At least in those first few weeks, they are willing to accept so many new things and people with open arms. Their willingness to put themselves out there, or their defeating the fear of being the odd one out, spurs them to forge relationships that they might never form otherwise, even given a few more months. Everything that we “veterans” take for granted is completely new to them. I revel in that feeling of novelty.

Talking with freshmen and explaining to them their new home really reminds me of why I decided to come to Princeton in the first place. Everything from the details of course selection to the earth-shattering wonder of late meal is brought back in the retelling. This way, the freshmen serve as the children of the undergraduates of the University, showing us old fogeys how awesome everything is when seen for the first time, just as infants and toddlers grant the same joy to their own parents. Their presence renews and provides fodder for a love for Princeton that we can all continue to hold. When it really comes down to it, the Class of 2015 is our successor, without which everything that has shaped our Princeton experiences would end.

Ultimately, I find that at the end of my own wonderful sophomore year at Princeton, it is well worth your time to think good thoughts for the Class of 2015 or to take the time to congratulate and welcome a future Princetonian if you know one. They’re about to become a part of our phenomenal Princeton community. In doing so, freshmen give this community a gift that they don’t even know they possessed.

Nathan Mathabane is a sophomore from Portland, Ore. He can be reached at nmathaba@princeton.edu.