A presidential welcome

In the hit movie Cast Away, a plane crash leaves the character played by Tom Hanks marooned on an island. Suddenly, he has to figure out how to do everything for himself for the first time.\nThese days, Bloomington looks nothing like a deserted island. Throngs of students and their parents are coming to campus, bringing their belongings and the end-of-summer traffic jams along with them.\nBut even in the midst of all the commotion, some new IU students might feel a bit like that fellow who woke up on a strange island. You are in an unfamiliar place; your old support system is gone (or, at least, only accessible by car or telephone); you have to start learning how to do more things for yourself.\nThe first piece of academic advice I would give you is to explore. You have washed up on the campus of a world-class university. You know the story -- 116 programs ranked in the top 20 in their disciplines; professors who rank with the best in the nation and the world; an illustrious legacy in the arts, sciences and humanities, strengthened by leading professional schools; a hard-earned reputation for information technology leadership. \nSomewhere in the Schedule of Classes, you will find a course in a subject that always interested you, even though it doesn't really fit into your major. Try it out. You might find a whole new academic direction. Attend an opera or symphony presented by our outstanding School of Music. That's a big part of what higher education is all about, intellectual exploration and growth. You will never have a better opportunity to take on new challenges.\nFortunately, unlike Hanks' character in Cast Away, you are not alone. You should have no trouble finding people who can give you more useful advice along the way than Hanks received from his volleyball, Wilson. Students who make friends and get involved are more likely to succeed than those who do not. It is as simple as that.\nWhen I talk about the IU family, I mean it. Members of a family help one another. For you returning students, think back to your first weeks in Bloomington. Remember a fellow student, faculty or staff member who made an extra effort to answer your questions and make you feel welcome? And if you can't, don't you wish someone had?\nI hope that good advice extends beyond a discussion of the best places to eat and the best classes to take. College students away from home for the first time also must adjust to a new level of personal freedom. Wrong choices about drinking and driving, drug use or other personal behaviors can change your life forever. We need to make responsible decisions, and go the extra mile to look out for each other.\nYours is a great opportunity and a great adventure. Enjoy it; take advantage of it. And don't forget the sunscreen.