It is a painfully hot August morning and the class of 2026 is sweating profusely under the weight of their thick black graduation regalia. Supporters line the sides of the main quad, painting the campus with a sea of red: clothing, pom-poms, signs and more. The bagpiper is following the students as they walk campus as seniors for the first time. This is the heart and soul of Senior Investiture, but what is it really?
Originating in 1908 and revitalized in 2021, Senior Investiture is one of Agnes Scott College’s oldest campus traditions. An investiture itself is defined as a formal ceremony that involves the appointment of an individual to a specific position or role. As seniors arrive on campus, we celebrate their achievements by appointing them the leaders of our campus. Because the soon-to-be graduating class parades around in their cap and gown for the first time, it tends to be a bittersweet and emotional ceremony. It is the first of many lasts for the senior class.
As a senior myself, it is hard to say anything that truly encompasses the experiences we, as a class, have shared these past four years. Looking back to four years ago, I can say that I was truly terrified and excited to step foot on campus for the first time. As a first-generation student, I was very unsure of what to expect. I anxiously awaited for Agnes to feel like home, and it took all of maybe two weeks. Once I began immersing myself with my fellow classmates, enjoying the campus foliage, and diving into my classes, I understood that this would not just be a place where I could learn, but a place where I could grow. Although I assume many can relate, I cannot speak for my fellow classmates of 2026. However, I know that leaving Agnes, I am not the same person I was when I entered in 2022. Our class has endured constantly, each of us finding a way that perhaps had not been paved before us. When I think of the class of 2026, one word comes to mind: innovative.
Being a senior and knowingly starting your last year of college is an incredibly overwhelming and confusing experience, but one that I value. After all, even though I am thoroughly excited to be finished with undergrad, we are all so lucky to have something that makes saying goodbye so hard.
Senior Investiture starts off our year with a celebration for all we have done and all we will do. Let’s make this year the best!
Be First to Comment