One of our newest features on Beyond the Back Gate is student reflections. After each major event or tradition on campus, we will ask a current student to write a reflection on their experience to share with the alumnae community. We will then post the stories and allow the alumnae to read about the event through the student’s eyes. We hope that you will enjoy this glimpse into the lives of our current students and even more so, we hope that this will take you back to relive your experiences while you were a student at Meredith. Enjoy!
“I remember being a freshman at Meredith College and hearing about all the traditions. I was told about everything from Cornhuskin’ to Alice in Wonderland, from Ring Dinner to Crook Hunt. I also remember hearing about Senior Parent Night but thinking that it was way too far off to give it much thought. How wrong I was. It came faster than I expected, and in many ways faster than I wanted. But it came, and went, in the blink of an eye just like the past three years.
Senior Parent Night is a fairly new tradition here at Meredith. It is, I think, yet another wonderful addition to our four years. How could we Meredith women not spend an evening honoring the people who have loved and supported us, financially and emotionally? They answered the phone and gave guidance when we were so stressed that we wondered if it was all worth it. They came to Cornhuskin’ even though they had no idea what it was really all about. They have been our biggest fans our entire lives.
This year’s Senior Parent Night was held in Johnson Hall’s rotunda. And yes, of course, we had a theme: “Southern Soiree”. The theme was reflected in all of the little details of the night: the desert and drink selections, the music choice and the gifts to our parents. By having the event in Johnson Hall, I was able to show my parents the famous dolls I had talked about, and show them where in just a year the 2011 Class Doll will sit for all to admire. Everything came full circle when my mom reminded me of the day I signed in for pre-registration the summer before my freshman year in this very beloved Rotunda.
Everything became real when I started working on the letter to my parents that I would give to them at Senior Parent Night. How do you put it all into words? As I wrote my letter, I pulled out the note my mom wrote to me at Tea for Two during my sophomore year. I found myself at a loss for words. I can’t express how grateful I am to my mom and dad for pushing me towards Meredith, for encouraging me to always do my best, for supporting me by coming to every crazy event I invited them to, and for always being proud of me. The evening was a beautiful tribute to these amazing people who without, we would not have made it this far. And I am forever thankful for their support.
At the end of our evening, as I watched my parents chat with other senior’s parents, I realized that not only would I be leaving a piece of my heart at Meredith College, but they would as well. While I have loved every second of my college life, they have enjoyed it right along with me. I guess you have to experience it to understand it.”
– Ellen Frazier, ’11
beyondthebackgate.com 
What a lovely and wonderful new tradition! Although we did not have Senior Parent Night way back in my day, I know how grateful I was and am to my parents for making it possible for me to attend Meredith. As Ellen said, they “enjoyed it right along with me.”
Thank you for this beautiful and thoughtful piece of writing that expresses the sentiments of children of all ages.