Starting college as a freshman, transferring to a new school, or going to college in a foreign country can be intimidating, scary, and nerve racking. Meeting new people, studying to get a degree for the real world, and having a new sense of freedom and independence can be overwhelming for many students. Most colleges and universities around the nation have some kind of orientation program to help students become acquainted with the campus and its operations. My incoming class was the first one at Ohio Northern University to go through a formal fall orientation program called "Welcome Weekend"; classes before me only had summer orientation. I hated Welcome Weekend; because I had to get up early, stay up late, do icebreakers, and trek around ONU's campus all day. It was a nightmare to an introvert like me, but I learned so much about ONU.
During Welcome Weekend, our class was divided up into several groups, each one led by an Orientation Leader (OL). They were our guide for the weekend and gave us insight about ONU and the campus. I even became close friends with my OL, Vanja. She inspired me to become an OL so I could help students just like how she helped me.
I have been an Orientation Leader for three years now, and it has been a very rewarding experience. Every Welcome Weekend, I get to work with an amazing group of fellow students that are proud of ONU and are excited to be welcoming in another class of new students to campus. We get to be the first people they interact with on campus and get to set the tone for their first year at ONU. Being an OL gives upperclassmen the opportunity to make an impact, big or small, in the lives of the new students, whether we know it or not. Drew Dudley's TED Talk perfectly describes the impact that we Orientation Leaders can make in a new student's life. Every year I enjoy being an OL, but it is not always easy
Being an Orientation Leader does come with some struggles. There are multiple training sessions in the spring and fall that have to be completed. During Welcome Weekend, we start at 7 a.m and finish around 10 or 11 p.m. almost every day, and sometimes not everything goes as planned. It's great to interact with the students, but sometimes it can frustrating. For the most part you will get good students, but occasionally you will get students who are "too cool for school" and make it harder for the other students to be excited about ONU and orientation. There are some bumps along the way, but in the end it's worth it to make an impact in a new student's life.
Being an Orientation Leader over the past three years has been an awesome opportunity and experience. I have made so many friends and have impacted several students' lives whether I realize it or not. It's not an easy job; but if it was easy, it wouldn't be worth it. Whether you go to ONU or not, I encourage you be an Orientation Leader or be involved in your school's orientation program. It is a great way to meet new students, serve others, and give back to the campus community and the college or university you attend.
