Pictured above: Jacob Bell, Student Government Association (SGA) President
Blazers,
It’s official. The Fall semester has begun! Over the summer while you were working, traveling or taking summer classes, we were preparing to ensure that you have the best year yet! No matter if this is your first or last semester at VSU, we want you to be successful and have a great time doing it.
You Belong Here
Welcome back and welcome home. Returning Blazers, we’re pumped to have you back. And #VState22; we’ve been waiting for you! We can’t wait for you to make your mark on campus this year. For all of us, Valdosta State is our home away from home, and we’re all a part of the Blazer Nation family. Our family celebrates diversity and is committed to inclusion, and together, we, the student body, largely influence our campus culture. Every day we have the chance to make VSU the most inclusive, welcoming, and respectful environment it can be. And we will continue this tradition by living out our Blazer Creed, together.
We Need Each Other
#VState22 brings tremendous momentum as it is the largest freshman class in five years (Wow!). Blazer Athletics, Greek Life, Fire Pit, Campus Activities Board, Student Government Association, and many other unique student organizations on campus are looking forward to harnessing this momentum and making this an incredible year, but it cannot be done without you! We all control the amount of time and effort we put into our education, our friends, our organizations, and, consequently, our campus. We need everyone in the Blazer Family working together in support of this campus, in order to reach our full potential.
We Will Succeed
When it comes to facing obstacles while pursuing our education, there are times when you’ll feel like you can’t do something. Mental illness, catastrophic life events, financial hardship, and other unexpected difficulties can serve as roadblocks when it comes to reaching your overall goal: graduation. Because we belong here though and we have each other, we have many reasons to keep moving toward the finish line. Valdosta State also has countless resources from its Counseling Center to its Career Opportunities Office, to provide support and encouragement during our time at VSU. Don’t hesitate to reach out to someone if you ever need assistance. And if you see another Blazer in need, guide them toward VSU’s many resources. No matter what happens during your time here at VSU, we want you to remember this: You are enough, you belong, and you are never alone.
We’re going to have a great year here at #VState, and I cannot wait to do it together. See you on campus (or on a coaster at Wild Adventures!).
Go Blazers!
Jacob Bell, 2018-19 SGA President
