

It is that time of the year again, when many are excited to return to school or in this case, university and see their old friends and familiar places. However, nothing like your first year of college, aka Freshman, right?! It is exciting, exhilarating, new school, new town, new state or country, new life, new beginnings; you are meeting new people, making new friends, carving your niche, paving your tomorrow but in the age of Ms Rona, things have been thrown for a loop a bit. Home and a computer screen are more like it. Thank you 2020. In many cases, some countries, freshman year is marked with traditions and rituals, like an induction to a wall of fame of sorts and in Portugal it is called, Praxe. It is a rite of passage, an initiation ritual of baptism students are subjected to into the university, akin to Greek Life and their pledges, “the ripping of the traditional academic suit of the students when they finish their first cycle of studies.” It is interesting thing to observe, with some students eager to experience. Here’s to life and new beginnings. Make it count. Make it worth. Cheers!
