New Cats, it’s finally your turn to inherit a bright-colored draw string bag and Baby Shark. Welcome to Villanova!
Orientation can be an amazingly horrible time filled with nervousness, awkwardness, excitement and fun. Here are some tips for surviving your first couple of days on campus.
1. Don’t be afraid of looking stupid. You might
think you look like an idiot walking around with a group like you are at day
camp, or dancing to the Buggaloo and Baby Shark, but look around you; everyone else is doing the same thing! Honestly, you’ll probably look more out of
place if you don’t join in, so just embrace what is going on and be a part of
it. No one is judging you, I promise.
2. Don’t force friendships. Everyone comes to
college looking to make friends, but you can’t force friendships. The best ones
happen naturally. You might end up forming lasting friendships with people from
your group. Some of my friends met their other really good friends
during orientation. Or, you may just be friendly with those from your group
when you run into them on campus.
Both are good options, just take it as it is.
3. If you don’t end up with a new best friend from
your group, you will find one somewhere else, I promise.
4. Introduce yourself to everyone. Speaking of making friends, introduce yourself
to everyone you can. It may seem over eager, but as long as you play it cool, it
won’t be, it will just be friendly. That is one of the best ways to get to know
people, especially those outside of your dorm or orientation group.
5. It’s probably going to be awkward. You're
probably going to feel it's pointless. Trust me, you will look back one
day and realize it was important. It might happen sometime first semester, freshman year, when you're feeling lonely and your day is made by running into
someone from your group. You will realize that familiar faces are always nice. It
might happen sometime second semester, freshman year, when you still hangout
with your OC and realize how nice it is to have upperclassmen friends (who also
have cars). It might happen as you return to campus for your sophomore or
junior year, this time as an OC, looking back on your orientation days
and hoping you can inspire your group to embrace this school the same way you
were inspired as an incoming freshman. Heck, it might even happen senior
year, when you look at the person standing next to you at Kelly’s, the night
before graduation and realize that he or she has been your best friend since day one, when you sat on Sheehan Beach playing Mafia as a group. You might realize the
importance and meaning of orientation right away, or it might take four years,
but one day it will hit you.
6. Don’t be too concerned with going out during orientation. A lot of people think they need to spend every night at some
party because they are finally on their own. Plus, “hey, this is what college is,
right?” Don’t worry about finding the “coolest party.” College will happen, but
during orientation, try focusing on other things, like what the orientation staff has planned for you and getting to know the people you are meeting. Plus,
they expect you to be at breakfast awfully early, and being hungover while
sitting through important presentations might not be the move.
7. Keep in touch with your group. Go to the
activities fair with them the first week and sign up for Day of Service
together. Even if you weren’t best friends with anyone in your group, these are
the people you spent your first days at Villanova with. Remember
that, and spend some time with them as the weeks progress.
8. Chat with your roommates at the end of each day.
Ask them how their day went, how their group is or simply share a funny story
of something you and your group laughed about. This small talk will help
bond you guys, and make it seem as though you have a friend to come home to
after the crazy days.
9. Do call home during orientation. I know it seems
like a busy whirlwind, but when your OC gives you an hour break before
having to meet back up for dinner, take 15 minutes to call your
parents. They are probably missing you and worrying if you're having a good
time, so make sure to update them on how things are going.
9. I
know you are tired after the day of activities and may just want to sleep or
hangout in your room, but make sure to go to the evening activities.
Meet up with people you met throughout the day, or go with your new roommates.
10. Do
get to know your OC. He or she is an upperclassman, and probably pretty cool.
So find out about their life here at Villanova and get to know them! Keep in
touch with this person. Your OC is a great resource to have freshman year
whenever you need someone to answer all your questions or
give you advice on how to make the most of the start of college.
11. BE EXCITED! As a senior, I can honestly tell you that the college years fly by. I
would give anything to be moving my new bedspread into Saint Monica's for the
first time, again, this Wednesday. I wish I could be you guys again but, unfortunately, I can’t. The best I can do is to tell you to embrace everything
that is happening, right now.
Enjoy yourselves at orientation and get into it! This is the start to your time at Villanova, and it is about to
be nothing short of amazing. These next four years are about to be
life changing, and I wish you all the best as you get started. GO, CATS!!
