Dear future Yellowjacket Ariel,
You are about to embark on a life-changing journey. You will end up at a university that will become a second home, surrounded by best friends who have become family. Right now, you do not know what lies ahead of you. But, on May 1, 2022 you will make a critical decision to attend the University of Rochester.
This is more than just a university. This is a place of friendship, opportunity, and a place where you have the ability to adhere to your curiosity. You will also learn what it means to embody the term Meliora. Meliora is Latin for Ever Better. For four years, you will explore this term and figure out what it means to you. And when you graduate in May 2026, you will hold the knowledge to spread the power of Meliora. Because of the University of Rochester, you will become ever better.
Right now, you may have some questions: Is college hard? Will you continue dancing? Are you going to find a best friend?
- Is college hard?
- Yes and no. College is the best four years of your life. Each semester is like a new chapter, with different people and experiences that will define your experience. You will find a balance between academics and social life that will allow you to be successful in everything you choose to do. You will take classes that challenge you and find ones that are fun and informative. URochester helped you to explore your passions and find new ones.
- Will you continue dancing?
- Yes, of course! At the University of Rochester, the first club you become involved in is the Ballet Performance Group. Months before moving in, you DM the club to learn more and get on their radar. Four years later, you will perform in your senior show, taking part in ten dances. You have the opportunity to choreograph and serve on the e-board. BPG is the most pivotal part of this chapter and helps you further the passion for dance. After the shows each semester, you are greeted by your friends, and congratulated by other peers who attend the performance. Your parents also drive 8 hours to sit in the audience and present you with flowers and huge smiles afterwards. These moments are some of the best memories and will stay with you forever. The University of Rochester creates a performing arts community that makes you feel at home because dance has always been a constant in your life.
- Are you going to find a best friend?
- Some of the closest people in my life have been found at URochester. Some of these people have been with me since the very first day of Orientation, when we stood on the quad for candlelight. We share memories in our first-year hall, wandering the campus together, moments in the library, and many late-night talks. These people make you feel seen and heard. When you need someone to talk to, laugh with, or just be around, there will always be someone in your corner. Whether it was my best friends from my first-year hall, people I dance with, co-workers, or from other clubs, these are the people who I will continue to text all the time, people who I consult for advice, and the people I will return to Meliora weekend with.
These are just a few of the many great things the University of Rochester will bring to your life. You will always and forever be a part of the Yellowjacket family. You will become a campus celebrity by appearing on the University’s social media pages, and people will know your name. When it comes time to graduate in May, you will leave feeling fulfilled and excited for what is ahead. URochester has prepared you for a life of creating change and always putting your best foot forward. The shy, introverted redhead who first stepped foot on campus four years ago, is leaving the University with confidence and a satisfied legacy.
No matter where you end up in May 2026, you will always remain a part of the University of Rochester legacy. Meliora will live with you forever.
Signing off,
Ariel Greenberg, Class of 2026