Happy Birthday W&M!

Everyone loves their birthdays, whether it’s the cake, the presents, or just the fact that the whole day is about you, birthdays are always something to look forward to.  As W&M prepares to celebrate Charter Day this weekend (the College’s 320^th birthday), it got me thinking about my birthdays here at the College.  It can be a little weird to think about celebrating holidays and milestones without your family or friends from home.  My first college birthday was definitely a change!  Instead of planning a birthday party with my best friends from high school (yes, I insisted on having birthday parties until I was 18…), I was studying for final exams.  Instead of picking a favorite restaurant for a birthday dinner with my parents, I was hoping someone with a car would offer to take me off-campus for dinner.  However, my first college birthday was definitely a success.  My parents ordered a cake through Dining Services for me and my friends to enjoy, my freshman hall mates put a gift bag of DVDs and books together, and my sorority sisters took me off-campus for a special dinner.  That first birthday away from home was different, but no less exciting.  It is difficult adjusting to celebrating milestones and special occasions in a new place with new people, but you quickly learn that your second family, your William & Mary family, will always be there to celebrate with you!  And the College’s birthday is no different!

Tribe pride definitely spikes on Charter Day!  Everyone is proud to be or have been a student at the College of William & Mary.  The weekend is full of celebrations that praise W&M for its esteemed past and toast to its tremendous future.  On Friday afternoon, there is a Charter Day ceremony that honors professors, administrators, and students with special awards and honors.  The ceremony includes a special guest speaker associated with the College.  This year Chancellor Robert Gates ’65, former U.S. Secretary of Defense, shared his William & Mary experience.  The ceremony includes different campus performance groups singing their rendition of “Happy Birthday” to W&M.  The dining halls host a special dinner after the ceremony, complete with delicious birthday cakes for the College.  On Saturday night, Alma Mater Productions (AMP), the student programming board, in collaboration with other benefactors and college services, host a concert for the entire campus in William & Mary Hall.  This year Gavin DeGraw performed, and in years past we have hosted Third Eye Blind and the Roots.  So, Happy 320^th Birthday William & Mary, here’s to many more to come!

-Jordan