Why Attend Convocation? Whats the Big Deal?

Every year on August 23, the most awe-inspiring, compassionate, and big event of the season exclusive to USF is Convocation. Being a catholic Franciscan university, the hope is that students can experience and instill the values and morals of being a proud USF student. But to get a better perspective on what really convocation is about, I had a little help from an inspiring and kind person. Coming from Fort Wayne, Indiana, Sister Abigail gave me her input what students can get out of attending the convocation ceremony. “I love convocation.” She says. “We want everyone to feel welcomed no matter what background, race, religion, or creed. But we also do this to make students feel valued and have a sense of belonging to the USF community.” says Sister Abigail in an interview with myself. She mentions that Convocation also highlights and culminates the 4 Franciscan values being Respect, Compassion, Service, and Integrity by introducing the importance of each one. “It is important students become aware of each of the 4 values to help them along throughout their rest their USF years.” she says. As the interview progressed, I thought to myself for a few moments of listening to the wise words of Sister Abigail. She brought up many good points as to why Convocation is actually quite special to attend, but more importantly what to grasp from it in the end. The true undercover message being two sacred words all this time, unity and family. But the unfortunate thing is that not all students are quite “hyped” up as they say, to attend Convocation. Some you can hear snicker at the thought of it by the university hall ways or rant on complaining of why even bother attending. Some are even forced to go by their sport coaches to attend saying things like “I’m not even catholic, I don’t follow religion much so why bother attending?” Or other things like “I don’t believe in any religion so why go?” Of course, hearing this always made me frown at how unappreciated some students could truly be, but I had to ask Sister Abigail on her thoughts about this issue.

“Vocation comes from the Latin root “vocare”, in other words “to call with.” We want to encourage students to experience what mass and USF is about, and to call with us what we stand for. If students didn’t get to know what we are about, why become a USF Student? But also, why bother attending a catholic university? We don’t hold any prejudice to anyone’s creed or beliefs, and we certainly don’t expect students to convert to being catholic. But we do expect them to know what we stand for and be willing to experience mass. We appreciate and respect their faith just as they should fairly with ours.” She says. As the interview sadly came to an end, I had to ask Sister one last final question that I hope could help students in the future. I had asked her what quote or saying that could be personal or from a well know author or celebrity would you give to incoming freshman and upper classmen pursuing soon in their future endeavors? This was the moment that touched me the most. “Experience as much as you can in life.” She said. “Life is too short as they always say, but at least through all types of experiences negative or positive, one can become wiser.”

I may have not been able to attend convocation this year due to class, but I was fortunate in another way. I had an interview I would never forget, and a person I was lucky to meet. I haven’t forgotten about my first convocation as a freshman just last year, for it was the time I discovered I had another compassionate family called “USF.”