Dear Students of the Class of 2028!
We are very proud to welcome you to RGSL! We are honoured that you have chosen to enrol in one of our Bachelor's programs. Together with our faculty, staff, and the entire university community, we are opening the doors to new beginnings for you.
We are all starting the new academic year with one goal: to take the next step on the staircase of knowledge and research. This year, we will explore where research and theory meet the practical aspects of the sciences you have chosen: law and business or law and diplomacy.
Not only you, but we are taking the next step together with you as well. In today's world of research, academia, and science, research findings become outdated almost as soon as they are released. Simply scrolling through every post on LinkedIn related to your field of expertise while having your morning coffee is not sufficient. You must also keep up with the ever-changing, dynamic world of progress. Consider the rapid progress of AI and the speed at which academic results are published, as well as the pace of everyday processes.
Fortunately or unfortunately, the speed is unlimited. This is what makes your journey at RGSL exciting: you're not just observers of this speed. You're learning how to move with it, question it, and eventually shape it.
Think of this journey as a high-speed road. Knowledge moves quickly, but it comes with risks. As on any highway, we must be aware of the signs, bumps, and moments when we need to slow down and reflect. Your time at RGSL is exactly for that: developing not only your knowledge, but also your ability to navigate these complex variations.
The good news is that you get to choose your own vehicle for the next three years. Some of you might choose a Tesla, racing through every lecture and deadline. Others may take the scenic route, making thoughtful stops along the way in their 1950 Porsche cabriolet.
There's always a pleasant feeling that comes with a new start, a sense of beginning a new chapter. It's encouraging to turn the page and start a new chapter in a book. This chapter is all yours. Therefore, strive to write it well.
The title of this chapter could be "Becoming." This chapter is about becoming someone new—someone who asks questions, challenges classmates and academics, consumes too much coffee every once in a while, and occasionally forgets where their lecture auditorium was scheduled.
You’re becoming a future lawyer, entrepreneur, or diplomat—or something you haven't imagined yet. At this stage, this choice aligns with your interests in law, business, and diplomacy. Additionally, you've chosen to study in a building located on one of the most picturesque streets in Riga, where tourist groups constantly pass by and capture the building in their photos. So yes, "Becoming" is a fitting title.
However, becoming doesn't have to be serious all the time. Laugh, fail, try again, and be proud of your progress, whether you receive top grades or simply survive your first presentation without your voice cracking or hands shaking. In the end, becoming is less about having all the answers and more about learning to ask better questions—ideally before the night of the exam.
There are new walls, new corridors, auditoriums, and even the people sitting next to you—to your right, to your left, and in front of you. There is an intriguing silence, goosebumps, excitement, and microscopic fears of the unknown, as well as practical issues, such as finding the right auditorium every morning.
What I can promise you is this: You won't be alone on this journey. Our academics, staff, and RGSL faculty are here to guide you. You are not in a Tesla without a driver. Until the day AI fully replaces us—which we hope is not too soon—we will be here, present and committed.
So, welcome once again. Be curious, be brave, and make the most of every moment.
We’re very glad you’re here, Class of 2028!