Friday, April 4, the College of William and Mary hosted a celebratory pop-up on Sadler Terrace from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. to congratulate students’ major declarations. The event was a part of the College’s Declaration Week, a multi-day event hosted in collaboration by the Office of Undergraduate Affairs, Arts and Sciences and Student Transition Engagement Programs dedicated to recognizing undergraduate students as they finish navigating their major declaration process.
In addition to the pop-up, the week consisted of several workshops, symposiums and engagement opportunities to guide and celebrate students in the process of making this decision. Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Education Shelly Laurenzo shared the College’s goals in hosting this celebration.
“We do a really good job of celebrating our students in the culmination of their academic journey when they graduate, but we don’t really do anything in the middle,” Laurenzo said. “You have orientation, convocation, then commencement, so the idea was we want something along the way to celebrate when a student actually declares their major which is a really big part of their academic journey.”
The celebration pop-up included a variety of free T-shirts, tote bags, hats and other trinkets commemorating the decision.
Organizers also set up a photo booth for students to pose with their friends and show off their newly chosen majors. Attendees swarmed to hold up signs displaying their decision and to grab a quick snapshot to commemorate the moment.
Several students and staff involved in the event organization attended to show their support and cheer on the students. Many attendees left the tables already sporting their new major declaration merchandise, outwardly celebrating this milestone decision.
Some of the attendees shared their opinions on the event.
Katalina Li-Kroeger ’25 declared her international relations major during her freshman year. She shared her insights on the benefits of the event.
“I think this is really cool,” Li-Kroeger said. “We didn’t have this my freshman year, so it’s really nice to see it. I think having, especially around PATH registration, more of an understanding before registration hits of what people are doing is really important, especially for underclassmen before they start such a scary process.”
Economics major Samirah Habib ’26 shared positive feedback about the event.
“I think it makes for a bigger celebration, like it’s not something that’s supposed to be stressful,” Habib said. “It’s something to be happy about.”
Laurenzo shared advice to students beginning the major declaration process.
“I think it’s okay to take your time,” Laurenzo said. “It’s good to explore, and it’s also okay if you change your mind, too. The major you declare does not dictate your future in any way, shape or form, it just opens doors for you.”
Josie Binkley ’26 provided some personal insight into the process as well.
“I think that you should explore options before choosing it,” Binkley said. “I did research in neuroscience before I declared neuroscience as my major because it’s hard to switch once you’re in it, so let yourself do other things and then decide rather than just come in and say I have to do this.”
Habib shared her story as well.
“I took my first economics class back in freshman year, and I just really loved my professor,” she said. “I think when I came here, I had a specific goal in mind, and then everything changed, so I didn’t really know what I was going to do. Just knowing that big decision was made was kind of comforting. Don’t stress. It’s a big commitment, but also just have fun with it.”
Li-Kroeger offered some advice to students undergoing this process in the future.
“Plan ahead,” she said. “Ask in advance. Ask a professor that you have a relationship with if at all possible.”
Laurenzo gave some closing remarks at the event.
“I think specifically, just bringing awareness that this is a big decision-making point for students, and that it’s not always easy and that sometimes we change our minds and that’s all okay too,” Laurenzo said. “So just recognizing that this is a big process and we at the institution celebrate you wherever you are in that process.”
