Orientation is one of the most important events for new students because it sets the tone of the school, influencing not only the new students but the students who run the show as well. I remember my orientation two summers ago. I was shy and did not enjoy all of the dreaded icebreakers. However, when I saw the interaction between the Orientation Leaders, I knew I wanted to experience that. This summer I received the honor.

There’s a lot of work put into preparing Orientation Leaders. Our job is to bring the hype and the school spirit. We’re selling the school to the new students and their families. How well we execute our job will make or break the student’s confidence in deciding to attend UB. No pressure.

Despite the high energy required for the job, it was one of the best experiences of my life. I gained so much more than I would ever have thought.

1. I Made New Friends

I knew some of my fellow Orientation Leaders prior to training, but I wasn’t particularly close with many of them. When you’re learning ice breakers together and end up in a human knot, you get pretty close. I now have friends that I wish I made during my first two years of college. It’s amazing how you can know a person for a short period of time and feel like you’ve known them forever.

I made friends with incoming freshmen. It’s always good to know someone who can show you the ropes. I made sure I was approachable and friendly; I found common ground with some of the students in my group, and I know I’ll be speaking to them during the rest of my time at UB.

2. I Made Connections

I familiarized myself with more of the faculty on campus. Administrators, advisors, and security guards know me by name and vice versa. Knowing the people who provide the many resources your school offers is so important. Not only do you show them that their work matters, but you get to know them more personally.

Most of the other orientation leaders are also club leaders, resident assistants, or have other important roles on campus. Now that we’ve all gotten to know each other, we can unite our clubs for certain events and we’ll support each other’s endeavors.

Some new students come from very interesting backgrounds and even their family members have awesome connections. By being a friendly face and getting to know them a little better, I have new found connections with people otherwise wouldn’t have known.

3. I Came Out of My Shell

Being an orientation leader has you do things that are pretty out there. I’m not a person who dances much or likes to act silly in front of strangers. Yet, I found myself attempting the Running Man Challenge, skipping around the dining hall, chanting “UB, you know!” and “Purple Knights!” at the top of my lungs, and trying to get students to, “show us how they wiggle-lo.” The best part is that I wasn’t afraid to do it. After getting over my initial shyness during training, I was more than happy to spread some school pride and get everyone to have fun!

4. I Gained a Newfound Appreciation for My School

I learned how historically significant UB is, from being the first junior college chartered in the northeastern states in the 1920s to becoming the first university with a chiropractic school in 1991. I learned about People’s Park, a spot on campus that memorializes students who passed before they graduated from UB. I learned about a memorial in front of the student center for an alumni who died fighting in Vietnam. I learned so much that really changed my perspective on my school and overall increased my school pride, which I was happy to display.

5. I Made Lasting Memories

I will never forget this experience. Each orientation group had a bandanna that was passed around similar to how a spirit stick would be. At the end of each session, we cut up the bandanna and gave a piece to each student as a memento. Each time I look at my piece, I’m reminded of the bond I made with the students I interacted with, knowing that though I was with them for a brief period of time, I set the bar for what they can make of themselves in the next four years.