Welcome Weekend 2016

Welcome Weekend 2016 Welcome Days  2016 is  upon us, and there are many essential events to remember to attend this weekend as a freshman on campus. Last year, my welcome weekend experience allowed me to feel much more comfortable on campus and gave me such a fun experience that provided many memories. I spent the whole weekend with a group of people I met at my residence hall, and it was the perfect time for me to get to know those  whom  I would go on to have friendships with for the rest of the year. On Thursday night, everything will kick off after all of the freshmen have moved into their residence halls. At 9 p.m. on Thursday, the Illini Union will be hosting a comedy show, while CRCE will be having an event called Chillax at CRCE at 10 p.m. Last year I went to the CRCE event, and there were  a ton of games, snacks, and fun that can help anyone find new people to connect with. On Friday morning, freshmen will start feeling very official as they experience Convocation. Inside Memorial Field, theyll  hear from a whole host of  alumni about their experiences at Illinois and how their lives were changed by studying here. This is honestly the most inspiring event of the weekend because it is so amazing to hear stories from people who  are passionate about what our great university has done for the world. Saturday night brings us Sights and  Sounds in Memorial Stadium. This event is like a giant pep rally that delivers in every way possible. In fact, I think it is nearly impossible to walk away from Sights and  Sounds not feeling proud to be an Illini in every possible way. The excitement of watching the band and also getting pumped by our sports coaches is quite amazing. Although each of the weekends events are great in their own way, Quad Day is very important to your success on campus throughout the semester. All of our great RSOs and clubs are at Quad Day advertising what they do and how you can get involved if you want to. Last year, I signed up for so many things that it would make your head spin! Remember to be active with RSOs, but also look out for your email inbox and be selective about what you might want to learn more about. Overall, Welcome Days  is fantastic because it gives freshmen so many positive experiences on campus. I highly advise everyone to learn more about what the  weekend has to offer. Most importantly, get excited, because all of your work has led to where you are now! Welcome Days  awaits you with many memories to come. Jacob Class of 2019 I’m an Advertising student within the College of Media. My hometown is a place called Fairmount, Illinois, which is about 30 minutes from campus. I began my Illinois journey in the Division of General Studies.