Darling baby sisters,
Welcome to your life altering experience! The mere act of coming to the illustrious Spelman College proves that you desire the very best for yourself! I want you to know that your journey will be just like a roller coaster- a RUSH, full of drops and turns that will leave you with a big grin and a lifelong memory at the end. I want to encourage you to not only do your very best at all times but BE your very best at all times. Know that the decisions you make in these four years can truly change the outcome of your whole life. Always respect yourself and others and know that sometimes your reputation is all you have! While on campus you will meet a lot of strong, powerful, intelligent, and beautiful women but always know in your heart that you are all of those things and more! Spelman College does not create greatness...they cultivate it! Meaning they improve the growth of the already wonderful woman you are. Create your own Spelman Mile and never look to others for your own path. Learn who you are, and accept the idea that the person that entered the Spelman gates as a first-year, may be a totally different person as a Senior. Work hard and hold every single day as an opportunity to learn academically, socially, and even emotionally. Explore, and never be afraid to try, or even make mistakes. Remember that you are human and God makes not a single perfect person! I am so very very very excited to meet you, hug you, and even guide throughout this precious time in your life! I know you will do GREAT!
Shanteal Lake
SGA President
Welcome to your life altering experience! The mere act of coming to the illustrious Spelman College proves that you desire the very best for yourself! I want you to know that your journey will be just like a roller coaster- a RUSH, full of drops and turns that will leave you with a big grin and a lifelong memory at the end. I want to encourage you to not only do your very best at all times but BE your very best at all times. Know that the decisions you make in these four years can truly change the outcome of your whole life. Always respect yourself and others and know that sometimes your reputation is all you have! While on campus you will meet a lot of strong, powerful, intelligent, and beautiful women but always know in your heart that you are all of those things and more! Spelman College does not create greatness...they cultivate it! Meaning they improve the growth of the already wonderful woman you are. Create your own Spelman Mile and never look to others for your own path. Learn who you are, and accept the idea that the person that entered the Spelman gates as a first-year, may be a totally different person as a Senior. Work hard and hold every single day as an opportunity to learn academically, socially, and even emotionally. Explore, and never be afraid to try, or even make mistakes. Remember that you are human and God makes not a single perfect person! I am so very very very excited to meet you, hug you, and even guide throughout this precious time in your life! I know you will do GREAT!
Shanteal Lake
SGA President
Beloved,
You are about to embark on an experience like no other. Congratulations on becoming a member of the Class of 2017 at Spelman College. During your freshman year you will learn so much and really begin to come into to who YOU are. Just last year I was a wide-eyed first year excited, full of energy and completely naive. After just one year I have been exposed to so many things and I have really started to become into the woman I want to be. And to be completely honest that’s one of the most beautiful things about being at Spelman College and being in the Atlanta University Center. Spelman College caters to you, the 18-year-old African- American girl who has just become a college student. SC cultivates free-thinking, phenomenal women, and as you know a Spelman woman is a gift to the world. That being said, academics are of the up most importance but please make sure you take the time to try new things, raise the bar, let loose and have fun. You never want to have any regrets throughout your college experience; so if that means you want to be President of your Resident Hall (HH!!) do it, if you want to join the Morehouse Business Association, do it, if you want to perform at Open Mic just do it! Take that chance and I promise it will make all the difference in your experience.
At Spelman you will be surrounded by beautiful, intelligent, intriguing women, you will be exposed to new lifestyles, new beliefs, and new people but don’t lose hindsight of who you are. You are so impressionable at this point in your life, but I just want to let you know that you don’t have to wear heels all the time, you don’t need to be at every social event, and you don’t have to impress anybody. Just be you!
You will meet so many new people and begin to hang out with people you will call your friends, I’m sure you’re already aware but not every girl you meet will be your friend or will be loyal to you. I’m not saying be anti-social, but just be careful (you don’t need to trust everyone), and I guarantee the friends you have freshman year will not all be the same friends you are close to senior year, people grow apart and that’s just natural. But there is a silver lining; you will meet your true friends, your soul mates, and your sisters that become so important you can’t imagine life without them. I have met some of the most amazing individuals and I know I have made life-long friends.
I hope you have an unforgettable first year, strive to do your best, and stay determined. I cannot wait to meet you and watch you grow. And don’t forget to “Do one thing every day that scares you”- Eleanor Roosevelt!
Sisterly Yours,
Aimee Sanders
Class of 2015
Student Government Association
Co-Special Events Director
You are about to embark on an experience like no other. Congratulations on becoming a member of the Class of 2017 at Spelman College. During your freshman year you will learn so much and really begin to come into to who YOU are. Just last year I was a wide-eyed first year excited, full of energy and completely naive. After just one year I have been exposed to so many things and I have really started to become into the woman I want to be. And to be completely honest that’s one of the most beautiful things about being at Spelman College and being in the Atlanta University Center. Spelman College caters to you, the 18-year-old African- American girl who has just become a college student. SC cultivates free-thinking, phenomenal women, and as you know a Spelman woman is a gift to the world. That being said, academics are of the up most importance but please make sure you take the time to try new things, raise the bar, let loose and have fun. You never want to have any regrets throughout your college experience; so if that means you want to be President of your Resident Hall (HH!!) do it, if you want to join the Morehouse Business Association, do it, if you want to perform at Open Mic just do it! Take that chance and I promise it will make all the difference in your experience.
At Spelman you will be surrounded by beautiful, intelligent, intriguing women, you will be exposed to new lifestyles, new beliefs, and new people but don’t lose hindsight of who you are. You are so impressionable at this point in your life, but I just want to let you know that you don’t have to wear heels all the time, you don’t need to be at every social event, and you don’t have to impress anybody. Just be you!
You will meet so many new people and begin to hang out with people you will call your friends, I’m sure you’re already aware but not every girl you meet will be your friend or will be loyal to you. I’m not saying be anti-social, but just be careful (you don’t need to trust everyone), and I guarantee the friends you have freshman year will not all be the same friends you are close to senior year, people grow apart and that’s just natural. But there is a silver lining; you will meet your true friends, your soul mates, and your sisters that become so important you can’t imagine life without them. I have met some of the most amazing individuals and I know I have made life-long friends.
I hope you have an unforgettable first year, strive to do your best, and stay determined. I cannot wait to meet you and watch you grow. And don’t forget to “Do one thing every day that scares you”- Eleanor Roosevelt!
Sisterly Yours,
Aimee Sanders
Class of 2015
Student Government Association
Co-Special Events Director
Class of 2017, congratulations on making the choice to change the world! Enjoy the engaging academics, rich history, traditions, and legacy of sisterhood at Spelman College. For the next four years, you will discover so much about yourself as a scholar, leader, woman of excellence, and public servant. Remember that you were chosen for your unique gifts. Cultivate them, and you will not walk out of these gates as the same woman you were when you walked in.
-Kendall Wells
Spelman Student Government Association
Co-Special Events Director
-Kendall Wells
Spelman Student Government Association
Co-Special Events Director
Welcome Class of 2017!
It honestly seems like it was just yesterday that I walked through those pearly Spelman gates in 2011 as a freshmen. It has been two years and I am officially a Junior at Spelman College. The memories that I have gained will last a lifetime. I am so excited for all of you to begin your Spelman journey. Each and every one of you will gain experiences that will help you grow into a woman of distinction. Please enjoy every moment here at Spelman and take advantage of everything it has to have to offer. This is your journey. Welcome home my new beautiful, intelligent, strong, sisters!
Andrea Washington
SGA Public Relations Director
It honestly seems like it was just yesterday that I walked through those pearly Spelman gates in 2011 as a freshmen. It has been two years and I am officially a Junior at Spelman College. The memories that I have gained will last a lifetime. I am so excited for all of you to begin your Spelman journey. Each and every one of you will gain experiences that will help you grow into a woman of distinction. Please enjoy every moment here at Spelman and take advantage of everything it has to have to offer. This is your journey. Welcome home my new beautiful, intelligent, strong, sisters!
Andrea Washington
SGA Public Relations Director
Dear Sisters,
If I could offer any advice to my new sisters it would be if you are scared of anything do it (granted that it is positive)! Last year I entered into one of the most intimidating places for me on earth, Spelman College. All around I heard high expectations accompanied with hopes that seemed insurmountable. How could I let anyone down? How was 5’1” Jazzy going to live up to the Spelman woman.
I had something to prove not just to everyone else, but to myself. I promised God and myself that I would not stop. Proudly pronouncing in my head I am Jasmine Erin Payne and I will not quit. I was not given a spirit of fear nor would I retreat like I was. So I promised to face all of my fears head on. If I was afraid of it, I had to try it.
My first encounter with fear was trying out for the induction ceremony. In my head everyone was going to be better and I was scared of making a fool of myself. Because the word ‘scared’ even entered my mind I committed to trying and giving my all. Consequently I was chosen and from that opened the doors for countless other opportunities. From the induction, I met and worked with people on the Student Government Association which motivated me to apply for an appointed position and that position led me to run to be a secretary. These are only a few instances in which facing my fears made an impactful difference in my Spelman experience. God rewards obedience.
My sisters of the class of 2016 I urge you to try. Just think about it, as a Spelmanite our goal is to make a choice to change the world and how can you make that choice if you do not take a leap of faith. Try and ask God to give you the serenity to accept the things that you cannot change and to change that which you can. So you know, the things you can change are everywhere, you just cannot be afraid to take the initiative to change them.
Sincerely,
Your Sister Jasmine Payne
If I could offer any advice to my new sisters it would be if you are scared of anything do it (granted that it is positive)! Last year I entered into one of the most intimidating places for me on earth, Spelman College. All around I heard high expectations accompanied with hopes that seemed insurmountable. How could I let anyone down? How was 5’1” Jazzy going to live up to the Spelman woman.
I had something to prove not just to everyone else, but to myself. I promised God and myself that I would not stop. Proudly pronouncing in my head I am Jasmine Erin Payne and I will not quit. I was not given a spirit of fear nor would I retreat like I was. So I promised to face all of my fears head on. If I was afraid of it, I had to try it.
My first encounter with fear was trying out for the induction ceremony. In my head everyone was going to be better and I was scared of making a fool of myself. Because the word ‘scared’ even entered my mind I committed to trying and giving my all. Consequently I was chosen and from that opened the doors for countless other opportunities. From the induction, I met and worked with people on the Student Government Association which motivated me to apply for an appointed position and that position led me to run to be a secretary. These are only a few instances in which facing my fears made an impactful difference in my Spelman experience. God rewards obedience.
My sisters of the class of 2016 I urge you to try. Just think about it, as a Spelmanite our goal is to make a choice to change the world and how can you make that choice if you do not take a leap of faith. Try and ask God to give you the serenity to accept the things that you cannot change and to change that which you can. So you know, the things you can change are everywhere, you just cannot be afraid to take the initiative to change them.
Sincerely,
Your Sister Jasmine Payne