UC students are coming back to the campus this week. For many this will be their first time away from
home. For some there is the pressure of being the first one in the family going to college. For others, the financial struggles of making ends meet overwhelm them. Some will miss their families, others are glad
to get away. Each one of them is coming with their own dreams and hopes. Almost 10,000 young people
will be in our community. They will bring so much, their energies, their dreams, their actions. Merced is
blessed to have them.
But my question is, are we ready for them? Are we ready for them to ask us the hard questions and challenging our status quo? Are we ready for the new ideas that come? Are we ready for their way of engaging with our community? Over the last 20 years thousands of students have graduated. Some stayed in Merced and invested in our community. Others moved on, but each one was shaped by us, shaped not only by the academics and student life, but also by our Merced community. Many volunteered in our community and learned about Merced. Many interns worked in our non-profits and experienced a new passion to serve. Each student at UC Merced is being influenced by us as much as we are influenced by them. What picture of community do we paint for them? What will they have learned from us? Will they have learned grace and mercy, or judgement and conflict? Will they have learned
what good community life looks like, what engaged neighbors can do to make their city a better place? Or will they have seen apathy, fear, and resignation?
WE - you and I are shaping the next generation! Let's make sure they learn the things that matter. Let's
open our homes, our business, our non-profits and invite them into our lives. I can't wait to meet them, to engage with them and to let them learn from us, as we also learn from them.