Written by Courtney Ford
Putting yourself out there to join the Orientation week team can be daunting. But take it from me it is a whole bunch of fun!
Committing to helping run Orientation week can be nerve-racking. Meeting and working with a team of people you may not know, helping execute and run activities and putting yourself out there to help and educate new students can be scary.
Though the thought of these things is worrying, the positives certainly outweigh the negatives.
At the end of my first year as a student, I decided to take the leap and put in an application to be an Orientation week leader.
Fast forward to the start of second year I moved in early, met the Orientation week team and my fellow peers who had decided to join the crew too.
We got to know each other on our training day and never looked back. We had such a fun week getting to know each other, running events together, chatting with and helping first year students.
Some of my favourite memories from the week would have to be creating our dance on our training day and putting our moves to the test at the paint party.
Also going to the evening activities with the first years, Resident leaders and the Orientation week crew, getting to know each other and unwinding after a fun-filled day.
One of the best parts is definitely connecting with the first years, reassuring them, answering any questions and being that comfort they may be seeking during a major transition in their life.
As another new year rolls around, I am so excited that I get to be a part of the Orientation week team again, not just as an Orientation week leader, but this year as a coordinator.
It’s so exciting to meet a whole new team of Orientation week leaders, reconnect with some familiar faces and get to know all the first years.
Orientation week has become one of my favourite times of the year. Getting to move back on campus and settle in, seeing friends after summer break and transitioning back into uni life.
I am so grateful to have the opportunity to work during Orientation week and help things run smoothly. Since putting myself out there and taking the opportunity, I have made so many memories and friends that otherwise would not have been possible.
Working Orientation week should definitely be on everyone’s bucket list and if you’re thinking about it for next year and are on the fence this is your sign to JUST DO IT!
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
