The level-up from school to university is a remarkable milestone in every student’s life. It brings excitement, nervousness, and anticipation. To ease this strangeness, second-year TESLiers organized a heartwarming and vibrant welcome ceremony for the juniors, “Meliora’24”, on the 26th of September, 2024. The ceremony was filled with new beginnings, motivational speeches, and fun activities.
The ceremony began with a vibrant opening as the academic staff members from the Department of English Language Teaching (DELT), Ms. Nipuni Prabodhika and Ms. Nelumi Bandara, lit the oil lamp alongside the batch representatives. The auditorium was adorned with lights and colourful decorations, creating a youthful and festive atmosphere. Ms. Nipuni Prabodhika then set the tone with a lively welcome speech, sharing her hopes and encouragement for the first-year students.
To break the ice and mingle with other students, the second-year TESLiers arranged a series of interactive games. Team-building activities and fun challenges encouraged students to come out of their comfort zone and collaborate with peers. One of the highlights was in the game “Point & Discover," where freshers were given eight chits about traits of a person and they had to point to the person who has similar traits as groups. This helped them to become familiar with the undergraduates around them. Another fun activity was the Talent Show, where the audience was given balloons containing tasks to complete or imitate. This opened the door for new friendships and merry memories.
The evening was rich with the vivid talents of the students of each batch. One of the most eye-catching performances was the second-year student’s dance, which earned the loudest cheer from the audience. The musical performances from all batches were exceptional, each standing out with mesmerizing harmonies.
The welcome ceremony organized by second-year students is not just an event; it is them reaching out their hands to their juniors and encouraging them to develop their future, build new friendships, and create lifelong memories. The customized key tags were gifted to them by second-year students as a gesture of love and support. As they embrace the new chapter of their lives, the bond made this evening will play a significant role in shaping their experiences. The second-year students, through their thoughtful effort, set a positive and joyful tone for the rest of the academic year.
