Andre Pause, Honors Architecture student, speaks to incoming Honors students, April 2008

When I was asked to speak with you all this morning, I thought to include my experiences as a student, and how being an Honors student has been advantageous in my academic career. And while I will certainly tell you of these things, let me first, digress.

Ali, Austin, Cliff, Fernando, Roman. While I certainly did not meet them in alphabetical order, these are 5 men I met my freshman year in the Honors Studio. Five men, among 13 others, that I spent an entire year with, days and nights, weekends and holidays, all in the pursuit of architecture. Five men with whom I have shared my joys, frustrations, tears, ruins, and successes over the last five years. Five men that I would not have met had I not appealed my rejected application to the Dorman Honors College. Five men that, still today, I count among my closest friends and brothers.

Three years ago to this very day I was up at 6 in the morning in the midst of a weekend of  gray skies, rain, soar throat, sneeze, cough, panic, and stress. It was one of my favorite, and most memorable experiences up to date. I was, as the second years are now, in the throws of our annual masonry competition, building brick mock ups and being stressed, anxious, nervous, and excited for what three years later would not seem as “the worst weekend of my life, ever” but a fantastic experience I would give anything to be part of again. And through it all I had my best friends of two years competing against, and with me.

That same semester we decided we wanted to study abroad…somewhere: not Asia, or southern Europe, or eastern Europe, or….anywhere where one of us spoke the language( German, Spanish, Russian, Urdu). Someone wanted Viking ships, others beer, others blonde women. In the end, we decided on Denmark. Small, cozy, abominably cold and dark in the winter Denmark.

We saw the Viking ships, we had beer, and blonde woman are a Scandinavian specialty. But, when I went back for a night after everyone had flown back home, there was no where to go, nothing to do, and no one to laugh and spend my time with. Those 5 men were not around, and Denmark just didn't seem as fun without them.

We all know by now, what I’ve oh soo subtly been alluding too. It is people that matter most in our lives. My last five years here would not have been those great college years that everyone talks about without those people that I have shared them with.

I have, quite recently, been referred to as a student who takes advantage of everything this institution has to offer.

I have been on countless committees and councils, run the architecture student union, have had internships at world renown architecture firms in Manhattan, and have studied in another country and traveled three continents while doing so. But what has not been said, is that much of my experiences and much of my opportunities have been in thanks to this school.

A semester abroad and the traveling that went along with it would not have been possible if not for the devotion of the Honors College and Dr. Bloom in particular. My academic career, in its entirety, I owe to Ms. Hulin, who has guided me strong for these years. And my internship with Daniel Libeskind would not have been, if it were not for the teachings of my professors, that, as an honors student, I have been able to choose. Again, it is the people of this institution that make it such an outstanding place at which to study.

When I first arrived at school, I partook in the Honors Freshman Retreat. Since then, I have volunteered and helped coordinate it every year. Each year, I meet the new incoming honors class, and the members of the newest honors studio. Each year, I add to that list of 5 men, and if all goes well and I manage to crash your honors retreat, I shall perhaps, if you’re lucky, add you as well, as you meet those students without whom you soon could not imagine your life.

Thank you.