| Greetings, Class of 2029 You did it! You completed your first year of college at Wesleyan. Take a moment to celebrate this important milestone. At the conclusion of your first academic year, you likely have all the feelings: excited that you are a year closer to your academic and career goals; sad that you have to say goodbye (for now) to the community you’ve created over the past year; nervous about what lies ahead. No matter your feelings, they are valid. After a year as transformative as this one, reflection can help you celebrate the wins, learn from the challenges, and set course for what’s next – sophomore year. Your second year of college can be both overwhelming and exciting as you approach major declaration. I encourage you to share your thoughts with those in available support networks; this includes your liberal arts advisor, a faculty mentor, one of our Academic Peer Advisors , your friends/family, and me, your Class Dean. Below are some reflection questions you may want to consider now and over the summer as you prepare for your return in the fall. These questions are intended to evoke personal reflection as you progress through Wesleyan. There are no right or wrong answers; however, take stock of your feelings as you navigate these questions.In what ways have you grown intellectually since August 2025? In what ways have you grown personally? What are your academic strengths? What are academic areas for improvement? Which classes have been most challenging? Why? How did you handle those challenges?Are you comfortable sharing your thoughts and ideas with peers in class? With your professor(s)?Have you taken advantage of opportunities to learn outside the classroom? What are some examples of this?Is there a topic you might like to research? How did you become interested in this topic?What campus resources can you use to navigate the topics addressed in these reflection questions?If you’d like to chat about your reflection with me, I welcome it! Please schedule a Zoom meeting with me here; Class Deans work over the summer and I’d love to connect if interested. Sending you good vibes as you embrace these summer months. Take care, Dean Dunn Class of 2029 Blog Questions influenced by NACADA, the global community for academic advising. |