The Yonsei University Main Auditorium came alive on March 28, a sunny, energy-filled spring Saturday afternoon with the ‘2015 Freshmen Welcoming Party and Alumni Mentoring’ for Yonsei School of Business freshmen, their parents, and their alumni mentors.

The freshman alumni mentoring program began in 2008 through the enthusiastic support of the Alumni Association of College of Business and Economics. This program assigns three to four alumni as mentors for every 10 freshmen. These alumni take the roles of advisers on college life and life coaches on career choices and opportunities and achievement of personal and career goals. About 190 alumni from the College of Commerce and Economics, and the School of Business, who are active in companies, government, and professions, participated in this year’s event.

Donghoon Kim, dean of Yonsei School of Business, welcomed the freshmen “I welcome you for becoming a student of the Yonsei School of Business. I hope you have a valuable time in the Song Do Campus to gain the basic knowledge as School of Business students.” Associate Dean Seongmoon Kim, conducted a session with the parents. He explained the curriculum topics that parents were most curious about and scholarships. The parents were proud to hear that Yonsei University was the world’s twentieth and Asia’s top private university. The video letter that the freshmen made for their parents expressed their undying gratitude, their pride in becoming a Yonsei School of Business student, and their promise to become famous individuals by studying harder.

The announcer, Oh Sang-jin (Entering class of 1998, Business major), initiated part two of the alumni mentoring with the entrance of the alumni mentors to thunderous applause from the freshmen. Kim Youngjin(Entering class of 1975, Business major), the chairman and CEO of Handok, the alumni president, gave a speech stating: “I hope you share your worries and have a great time during the mentoring period,” and introduced the CEO Mentor. Song Ja (Entering class of 1955, Commerce major), the former president of Yonsei University, urged the students not to compare themselves with the Ivy League students. Instead, they should be aware of their goals and consistently try their best. Jung Chang-young (Entering class of 1963, Economics major), the former president of Yonsei University, encouraged the students to use every day preciously to grow as a global leader. Jeong Kap-Young (Entering class of 1971, Economics major), the president of Yonsei University said, “This year’s freshmen signify luck since they entered during the 130^th anniversary of Yonsei University and the 100^th anniversary of Yonsei Business administration.” He said that he believed the new freshmen will become individuals who will keep adding to the history of Yonsei University. He gratefully thanked the parents of the students for participating in the event.

The first exchange in greetings took place on the stage when the mentors welcomed their mentees. The awkwardness instantly disappeared as the mentors and mentees put their arms around each other to the rhythm of the Yonsei cheerleading team, increasing the empathy of the freshmen for being a Yonsei University student, and sang together so loud that it rang throughout the auditorium.

A freshman, Park Soo-min, expressed his feelings in a quavering voice: “It is an honor to enter Yonsei University Business Administration and be part of this awesome event. In different aspects, I was able to gain a sense of pride of becoming a member of the Yonsei University School of Business after watching the active appearance of the Yonsei University School of Business alumni.”

 In addition, one of the student’s fatherr, Oh Chi-hwan, expressed a short but deep emotion: “The entire time I watched the welcoming party of the freshmen, my heart felt heavy, and I felt very proud of my son. As I saw the mentors, who are prominent in the different sectors of our society, I hope that, later on, my son can participate in the mentoring event as a Business Administration mentor.”