Location: Chapel

Required for All Incoming Students

In her keynote Belonging Without Losing Yourself, writer, MFA Creative Writing Professor, and Emerging Writer in Residence at Chatham University, Sakena Jwan Washington invites first-year students to explore the pressures of fitting in and the freedom of being authentic. Through humor, personal stories, and hard-earned lessons, she explores the pressure to fit in, the hidden costs of pretending, and the freedom that comes with being true to yourself. Students will walk away with practical tools to navigate peer pressure, build authentic friendships, and embrace Chatham’s community without losing sight of who they are.