President Morton Schapiro encouraged freshmen to focus on personal improvement rather than competing as he welcomed the Class of 2013 on Monday during his first President’s Convocation at Northwestern. He was joined on stage at Pick-Staiger Concert Hall by other speakers, including chemistry professor Mark Ratner and Associated Student Government President Mike McGee.

Schapiro announced that he had reallocated funds from his inaugural black-tie dinner to put on a concert for students. Barry McCardel, co-director of promotions and public relations for A&O Productions, said this was a reference to John Legend’s performance in Welsh-Ryan Arena on Oct. 9, which was announced Monday morning.

“I was incredibly impressed; he was both impressive and approachable,” Weinberg freshman Mariah Youngblood said. “The attitude in the theater after he announced the concert was amazing.”

While the reference to the concert received the most response from students, Schapiro had more words for the class of 2013. He encouraged freshmen to be aggressive in their studies but to let go of the competitive habits from high school.

Schapiro also peppered his speech with anecdotes about his experiences at Williams College in Williamstown, Mass., where he served as a president from 2000 to 2009.

He received laughs as he recalled how a freshman student once asked him to help him carry up a refrigerator on move-in day. Since then, Schapiro said, he always remembers to wear a tie so that he can meet people without sweating.

The atmosphere was vibrant in Pick-Staiger as both the new president and the new class shared one of their first moments at Northwestern.

“This is a great purple community,” Schapiro said. “It’s great to look out and see so much purple and be in this community.”

He closed his remarks by urging students to look after themselves and their fellow Wildcats.

“I love his ability to appeal to the students and appeal to us as a whole,” Communication freshman Matt Rueger said. Other first-year students described him as charismatic and down to earth.

“He’s a good guy,” Rueger added. “I’d love to have lunch with him.”

Correction appended: The original version of this article stated that Schapiro announced the student concert during the first speech. Our reporter attended the second speech. North by Northwestern regrets the error.