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Senior Orations at Wake Forest

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The History

...In the first year of the Institute (1834) students organized a debating society. Soon after the opening of the second session in 1835, students organized two groups, the Euze1ians and the Philomathesians. These two literary societies promoted debate and oratory at all special occasions of the college.

At first, all members of the senior class were expected to speak, unless excused by the faculty. In the early 80's the number of speakers was fixed at ten; others in the class wrote a thesis. In 1899 the number of speakers was reduced to eight, in 1909 to six and in 1924 to four. In 1973 the Dean of the College reduced the number of speakers to three... READ MORE

Learning from Orphanage #105
By Joseph Lazazzero
Senior Colloquium – 2008

There are few things that can match the experience one gains on an international service trip.  Fortunately for me, I was lucky enough to attend two of these to Orphanage #105 in Moscow, Russia during my four years here at Wake Forest University, first the summer of my freshman year and then again as the trip leader the summer of my junior year. It has been a combination of these two experiences that has come not only to define my time here at Wake Forest, but also myself as I look to the future. READ MORE

A Few Thoughts on True Freedom
By Dorian Cowan
Senior Colloquium – 2008

Thought 1:
Over the past four years, my time at Wake Forest has opened the eyes of my mind and helped me to better understand who I am.  For these few thoughts, I wanted to share my story void of any discussion of my race.  I realize now that that is impossible.  I can’t ignore what God has predestined me to become.  Sometimes I feel trapped in a series of manmade institutions composed of problems that we are all aware of, but cannot fix.  Perhaps one day when we finally transcend from this physical bond we will ascend into heaven or a nebula of understanding and acceptance.  That will be the ultimate freedom.  But what exactly does it mean to be free, not as in the emancipation proclamation freedom, but to truly be free.  READ MORE

“Rereading History” 
by Jae Haley
Senior Colloquium - 2008

In my sophomore year, I learned from my English professor that “Our age is retrospective,” and furthermore, that this tendency to look back is quite nearly a sin, preventing us from discovering truth, individualism, vitality. Today, I would challenge my professor and the words of Ralph Waldo Emerson having found wisdom and maturation as the result of retrospection. Is it even possible to not think retrospectively, to not ruminate over the past and how it has shaped and will shape a later time? Indeed, it is near impossible to prevent one’s mind from delving into the interiors of the past and even more so for my fellow seniors and me. READ MORE

The Bubble Experience
by Andy Lobashevsky

When I told my friends back in Alabama that my college asked me to give a short talk about culture and higher education, they fired their shot guns in the air for a good two to three minutes with their excitement and pride for me.  In all seriousness, it’s an unbelievable honor for me to speak to you today, and I really do love my hometown.  I can say now with complete confidence that the last four years of my life have been nothing short of incredible, for the most part because I was able to attend such a wonderful and exciting university.  So, all I can share with you is just my experience here at Wake and how it has enriched my life beyond my wildest expectations. READ MORE

Impossible Questions and
Questioning the Impossible
by Emily Nicole Leonhardt
Senior Colloquium - 2006

Some of the best advice I have ever received came from my fifth grade social studies teacher.  Mrs. Hillman insisted that no matter how daunting a test question appeared, it was never impossible.  She gave us a simple tip: when faced with a difficult problem, take a deep breath and think, “Oh, what an interesting question!”  To this day, my mother teases me with this line when I’m studying for a particularly difficult test.  The method never worked miracles and it didn’t guarantee correct answers, but the lesson served me well over the years.  Mrs. Hillman knew that no matter how much we studied, we wouldn’t always have the exact answer to every question.  She trusted our ability to reason and encouraged us to rely on experience when memorization failed us. READ MORE

“Hope – in the voices of Africa”
by Nemanja Savic

I packed my bags in August of 2002. 2 big, green, cheap suitcases, bursting at the seams and my traveling companion for many years – my bulky golf travel bag. I will never forget the tears that rolled down my mother’s face as she hugged me goodbye – absolute freefall to the indifferent African soil. She had made sure, in her motherly way, that I had packed everything short of the kitchen sink. My father was never a man of many words and his offering was not unusual: “Take care, study hard, don’t do anything stupid.” Wise. READ MORE