Finals are over which officially means that I am now a senior in college. Yesterday was a new student registration day, and I was working. It got me thinking about my college experience and I have been taking a lot of time to reflect on my last 3 years in general. I have been so fortunate to have made some amazing friends and memories, but I cannot forget where it all began.
For those of you who may be entering college this fall, orientation weekend is bound to be one of the craziest times of your life. You may already feel nervous, excited, and a tad bit scared to face the unknown. Maybe you are thinking “what if I don’t fit in,” “what if I don’t like my roommate,” or “what if this school isn’t for me?” Fear not, as all these emotions are completely normal. I too felt these feelings when I was where you are. I encourage you to enjoy every second of it, for one day soon you will be looking back at orientation with the same nostalgia as I am.
I loved orientation week, but like any freshman it did not come without some hiccups.
On August 14th 2013, my mother, step-father, grandma and myself packed up two SUVs and headed from Buffalo, NY to Findlay, OH to prepare for the best 6 years of my life. The drive was full of tears, fears, and nerves, but I was also incredibly excited. Six hours and lots of rest stops later, we pulled in to an unfamiliar town, and my nerves and excitement shot through the roof. I ran up the stairs as fast as I could to greet my new roommate, just to find an empty room. I was bummed, but I figured she must be stuck in traffic or running late, so I began hauling boxes up to the second floor. After several hours arranging my room and a few too many Walmart runs for one day, I got a text from my roommate.
“Hey! I’m staying with my parents tonight. I won’t be moving in today, see you tomorrow?”
Naturally, I was pretty bummed. Everyone had already bonded with their roommate and began to make friends with their hall-mates. I had spent about five hours not conversing with anyone but my family and now didn’t even have the chance to meet my roommate. I told my mother I was going to stay in that night and decorate my room instead of going to the movie at the Rec.
It wasn’t even 20 minutes before I heard a knock on my door.
I opened it to none other than my Admissions counselor, Brandon. Brandon was practically the whole reason I attended UFindlay in the first place, as he was a phenomenal admissions employee. Brandon was also very helpful with dealing with my mother who was a “helicopter-mom” as admissions staff typically calls them. Of course, my helicopter-mom called Brandon all worried that I was staying in. Brandon insisted that I come to the movie. I am incredibly stubborn and argued until I was blue in the face. Finally, I gave in and grabbed a blanket and followed him to the rec center, embarrassed all the while.
He began introducing me to some of the Orientation Leaders. I was mortified. I came to a movie with a university staff member and all these upperclassmen must think I am incapable of making friends. But I can make friends!! I am a social butterfly, I am not a loser!
I walked a few steps away. Close enough that Brandon could grab me if he wanted to introduce me to more people, but far enough away that the new freshmen who are now coming in don’t think I am an absolute outcast. I acted as though I was taking a really long time to choose which pop I wanted to drink when I heard a girl behind me say, “That’s what we should have brought! A blanket!” I remember that moment clear as day. I immediately turned around and jumped on the opportunity. “This blanket is huge if you all want to share!”
There were 5 girls, 3 were cheerleaders who had met over summer at their training camp. Another was a girls roommate, and finally a swimmer who knew one of the girls from high school. We all sat and talked and did not watch a second of the movie. It wasn’t long before we ditched and went back to the dorms to watch “Pitch Perfect” and order a pizza.
I became incredibly close with these girls, and I don’t think I would have survived my freshman year without them. The girl who suggested they should have brought a blanket? Her name was Ashley. Three years later and she is still my absolute best friend, and sorority sister. Brandon no longer works for my university, because he is now a big whig at another school, but as embarrassed as I was that he showed up at my door that night, I can never thank him enough for dragging me to that movie that night. My roommate? Well, we never became close, but honestly, I’m in a strange way glad that she did not come that night, because I met some of the most amazing people that night. We also all decided to go through Greek recruitment that night, which I’m sure I will write about another time, but that was life-changing too. Myself? Well I am one of those Orientation Leaders now, who nostalgically looks back on orientation weekend and help little lost freshman much like the one I was get over their fear and be themselves. I have excelled academically in school and in leadership roles in numerous organizations on campus. Best of all, I have made closer friends than I could have ever imagined.
Everything always has a way of working out, even in ways you wouldn’t expect. So, I promise you incoming freshmen, or anyone in any situation that comes out less than perfect, much like my first day in college, everything happens for a reason.
