The traditional NEOMA Starting Days were held at the start of September. They were two full days that helped integrate students into the Master in Management (MiM) programme with nearly one thousand students equally divided on the Rouen and Reims campuses by the next day.

Workshops, a barbecue, a morning muscle wake-up, songs and challenges helped to create class spirit in less than forty-eight hours. First- and second-year students share their experiences.

CHARLENE HEBERT

1^st year 

“After one day at Starting Days, I felt I found my place. I left my home and it was a bit hard to leave my family and the security that I had with them. Here, I know that I’m surrounded by people who can help me. First, there were the groups on social media for the class. Then we had workshops, dancing and singing on the first day, which were great for getting into the school spirit. I felt the family spirit from the start.”

GAUTIER GUERIN

2^nd year

“I enjoyed sharing and conveying what I’ve learned. Last year we got a really great welcome, and this year I wanted to explain campus life, the Néoma atmosphere and our values to the first-year students. I wanted to show the solidarity that all the students have, where we don’t leave anyone behind. We’re really like a big family. We meet up and mingle together. I also wanted to show that there is genuine humility in it. NEOMA is a great school and a peaceful place for me. It has given me a lot and I wanted to give back what I received.”

ADRIEN VIEGNES

1^st year 

“I felt a genuine desire to bring people together so each person could quickly join in. You feel a family element in it. Personally, I didn’t know anyone when I arrived. And in the end, I was talking with a lot of people thanks to the activities.”

VALENTINE BELLOC 

2^nd year

“We were really happy to see everyone arrive! I was there at Starting Days because it’s important to bring together a new class, show them the different student societies, and create a solid group of united people. Last year, the PEA (Student Society Entrepreneurship Track) was in attendance, and it was important for us to do the same.

“We tried to transmit NEOMA’s values and show the campus atmosphere. For me, we make up a real family. We’re a big group of friends who listen to each other and accept one another for who we are. Students come from all different backgrounds. It makes for a very interesting melting pot.”

PIERRE CAMPEZ

2^nd year

“The first year, the second-year students helped us integrate, sharing with us the NEOMA values so we could form a real class despite Covid. And it was successful. That’s why we wanted to convey what we enjoyed to other students. We wanted them to have a better year than we had.

“In the morning we started by singing songs from Rouen to create a good atmosphere for them, welcome them and show them our festive side so they would feel comfortable, particularly those who didn’t know anyone. We hoped that they could see this return to school as a real return where they have the opportunity to meet a lot of people.”

LOU LICZKOWSKI

1^st year 

“After a day on campus, I felt the family spirit here. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. It was nice. The small-group workshops let us learn about others and their passions.

The best time during Starting Days was the barbecue. I felt like I was on the Champs-de-Mars in Paris, except that we had the administration building instead of the Eiffel Tower. We were all in groups at first, but not in cliques. Then the groups began to expand as things went along. We were able to meet everyone there.”

YOHANN FERNANDES

2^nd year

“It was important for us to give them a good welcome. The previous years were difficult. The goal of this school start was to help new students assimilate as quickly as then can and show them our student societies and promote this collective ambition in NEOMA.”