This past Thursday, the College of William & Mary turned 331! How do we know how old the university is? On February 8th 1693, the charter of William & Mary was issued by King William III and Queen Mary II, making William & Mary the second oldest institution of higher education in the United States! Now Charter Day is celebrated annually by students, staff, and faculty here at William & Mary. The Green & Gold Bash, special dining events, and more accompany this celebration each year.
Who initiated the charter? James Blair negotiated the charter to the royal court in 1691 and was later named as William & Mary’s first president.
Does the charter still exist? Unfortunately the original charter was lost, however, Swem’s Special Collections is home to two manuscript copies of the charter!
Who began the celebrations? President John Stewart Bryan initiated the first celebration of Charter Day in 1937! Each year, speakers are invited, awards are presented to faculty and students, and campus wide events occur!
The time after move-in or breaks can be challenging to enter or re-enter the busy schedules and demands of college. For some it might be a needed refresh from spending time at home, but for others it can lead to homesickness. Here are three ways to help minimize feelings of homesickness and isolation:
Get involved on campus
The best thing to do to overcome homesickness is getting involved. Push yourself to meet new people, make new friends, and try new things! Clubs are a great way to participate in things you enjoy while also gaining new experiences.
Decorate your room with things from home
Having things in your space to remind you of home that can make you feel more comfortable in your new environment.
Call friends and family from home
Occasionally check in with your loved ones. Remember that those from home are just a call away!
In most cases after the first couple days to weeks, feelings of homesickness tend to go away. Surrounding yourself with new friends while also intermittently catching up with loved ones is a great way to overcome homesickness.
Did you know that William & Mary is the number one public university for internships? There are so many opportunities for professional development within the university, but also outside and beyond your years in school.
Internships
Internships are great ways to obtain work experience while strengthening your resume and skills!Paid, unpaid, short, long, in-person, virtual, internships are extremely variable which makes it easy to find an opportunity that interests you. While internships can be either paid or unpaid, and some internships can even be used for academic credit!
Externships are a shorter opportunity that can help you get a bearing of how a professional organization operates. William & Mary offers opportunities for job shadowing 1-2 days in a variety of approved organizations. Some externships include opportunities in federal government, judicial, non-profit, public defender, private practice, and more organizations.
Funding for Unpaid and Underfunded Student Experiences, also known as F.U.S.E. patterns with donors to offer funding for unpaid and underfunded internships. All opportunities through F.U.S.E cover food, housing, and transportation for students working a certain number of hours depending on the semester. There are certain requirements needed for F.U.S.E, so if you’re interested, please check out the information below!
Research is for all majors at William & Mary. Reaching out to professors that are currently conducting research is a great way to begin gaining experience to add to your resume as an undergraduate.
If you’re currently a student at William & Mary, you’ve probably received an email from Tribe Careers before. Tribe Careers is a one stop shop for professional development opportunities. Find a career explorer, interest finder, add your resume, check out upcoming events, and apply for jobs!
The Cohen Career Center is home to career development and professional engagement. Find quick help with resumes, practice job interviews, and various events to help boost your career before graduation.
While this blog post doesn’t cover the vast number of opportunities that William & Mary has to offer, consider taking advantage of the many resources available!
Welcome to the Tribe! I am so excited that you are coming to join our wonderful community here at William & Mary. It seems like just yesterday I received my acceptance letter, and now I am finishing up my studies. As a graduating senior, it is my due diligence to impart some wisdom onto you. The first thing that comes to mind is to acknowledge that school work is of the utmost importance, but never let it close you off. During my first few semesters, I found myself saying no to things because of my schoolwork. I was shutting myself off for the sake of my studies. You should not do that. Schoolwork will be done, you are so intelligent, I mean you got into William & Mary. Enjoy the little moments, stay up a tad too late and laugh with your friends. At the end of the day, all will be well. Suddenly you’ll blink and you’ll be a senior wishing you could go back and have more of those silly small moments that mean the world. The people here are so kind, so get to know them. Say hi to the person sitting next to you in class, they may become one of your best friends. It worked for me! I was in the hardest class I had taken thus far and it bonded me with my classmate who has now become a sister to me. Instead of that hard work causing me to be unsociable, it led me to someone I could not imagine spending my time here without. College will be hard, it will be an adjustment. But you are so strong and can do it. Pushing through is so worth it. There are so many joys that I have from my time here, and I cannot wait to see what wonderful things you will do and the amazing memories you will make. Roll Tribe!
Finals officially begin next week! While studying takes up a majority of students’ time in these next two weeks, it’s important to remind ourselves to stay well during this time of stress. Having a toolbox of resources to assist with physical, emotional, and academic and wellness during finals can be helpful! Here are a few things, both material and conceptual, to add to your DIY self care kit for finals week!
Reusable water bottle – keeping a water bottle with you while studying helps maintain hydration which increases energy levels!
Journal – keeping a journal, notebook, or even a sticky note to write down anything that comes to mind helps minimize distractions and express your feelings
A good playlist – for study breaks or even studying itself! Something enjoyable like music can put you in a good mood for the day!
Snacks – don’t forget to fuel for studying! Find some snacks from around campus that you can eat while studying!
Comfortable clothes – being comfortable while studying will further minimize distractions
Blanket – If your room gets cold, try having a blanket on hand
Free campus events – keep an eye out for free campus events that can act as a fun study break! You might even be able to score some free food!
Study timetable – knowing your schedule for the day/week will keep you on track by knowing what to do and when!
Essential oils – if you enjoy calming scents like lavender, try utilizing essential oils!
Coffee and tea station – the coffee and tea stations in Caf and Swem are great for a quick and easy study beverage
Set breaks – giving yourself time to do other things like hang out with friends, take a walk, sleep, read, etc. is one of the best ways to decompress
Romanticizing studying and having a variety of resources you can use during finals helps minimize distractions which will keep you energized and focused! Best of luck everyone!
One of William & Mary’s most beloved traditions is the Yule Log Celebration. The Yule Log Celebration is a long lived tradition for expressing gratitude for the past and present while also welcoming new beginnings going into the new year. It also stands as a way to bring the William & Mary community together to celebrate the joy of the season.
Occurring annually around the end of the fall semester, this celebration in the Wren Courtyard spreads holiday cheer with students, staff, faculty, and alumni across the world. With festive music, singing, poems, and stories, the William & Mary community celebrates the end of a semester and reflects upon the themes of peace, joy, and gratitude. The Yule Log is carried through the crowd into the Wren Building to be lit for a fire. Students have the opportunity to toss sprigs of holly into the Great Hall fireplace for good luck as well as decorate the trees around the Wren Building with messages of gratitude on paper doves to share appreciation for the past and present. After, cider and cookies are shared among participants.
Welcome to the tribe spring transfers! As you begin your journey at William & Mary, consider adding these to your college bucket list. I’ve compiled a list of academic and social ideas to create the ultimate bucket list for your first semester!
Join a club or organization of something you’re interested in
Explore all floors of Swem
Attend a lecture or workshop outside of your major
Pet a dog at the Williamsburg Farmers Market
Host a movie or game night to meet new people
Attend a formal dance or event
Volunteer for a local charity or community event
Start a study group with students in your class
Go kayaking on Lake Matoaka
Find your favorite pancake house
Attend an AMP Event
Write a letter to your future self to open on graduation day
Happy Thanksgiving break William & Mary! As we approach the end of the semester, finals week is closer than ever. Now is the time to begin preparations to set yourself up for success. Here are a few tips to acing your final exams!
Start Early
Don’t leave your studying for the night before. Avoid procrastination and cramming by beginning your preparations early!
Create a schedule
Making a schedule for what needs to be completed as well as what to study each day can help you keep track of your studying while avoiding burnout!
Prioritize Tasks
Try to identify the most important tasks and subjects to study based on due dates and your final exam schedule. Also focus on the areas where you need the most improvement or what holds the most weight on your exam.
Take Breaks
Don’t forget to take breaks every once in a while to maintain productivity. Taking breaks gives your brain time to absorb your studying and also decreases burnout when studying for long periods of time.
Maintain wellness and take care of yourself
Utilize campus resources like wellness center classes and make sure you’re taking care of your physical and mental health. Drink lots of water, get adequate sleep, practice mindfulness, and exercise daily to maintain a healthy mindset.
Ask for help
Exams can be academically and mentally stressful! There’s no shame in asking for help whether it be for academic or wellness purposes.
As the temperature gets cooler, leaves start to fall, and Williamsburg transitions into a wintery wonderland, it becomes the perfect time to take a walk listening to a cozy winter playlist. In this post you’ll find a playlist curated by STEP blog writers that captures the holiday feels of Williamsburg for your next winter stroll around campus and Colonial Williamsburg!
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