Sweaty palms, shakiness, the urge to throw up – all signs of nervousness.
Placed in a new and unfamiliar situation, many people show these symptoms.
But Director of Student Life Lisa Thomsen says her crew of leaders set out to ease the transition with the new student orientation rather than increasing the number of trash cans around campus.
Each new student is placed into an orientation group, with two to three returning
students serving as leaders, Thomsen said. The groups then met continuously for a jam-packed schedule throughout the course of the weekend.
Two-time Orientation Leader Paige Potorff saw orientation not only as an opportunity
to meet new people herself, but to build relationships as a mentor, friend and leader.
“The new students get to meet new people, make friends and have a good time,” Potorff said. “With orientation, there’s less of a struggle to become comfortable.”
Activities varied from ‘get to know you’ games to meals to introductions to first year classes. Most days required student participation in the majority of events.
“With less free time, it seems like the new students would have less time to dwell on missing home, friends and family,” Potorff said.
Orientation leaders are encouraged to keep in contact with their groups throughout
the school year. Orientation organizers hope that new students will always have a friendly face they ever need.
“My orientation group will know that I’m here if they have any questions or concerns about things on campus,” Potorff said. “Being a new person is a long process, and it definitely doesn’t end right at the beginning.”
Freshman, Vicki Boor agrees that having the entire weekend of introductions helps newcomers who will continue to have questions.
“It helps knowing an upperclassman that you can turn to if you ever need anything,” Boor said.
Boor saw both positives and negatives of Orientation.
“Orientation made us meet new people,” Boor said. “Things like Playfair were different but there wasn’t a choice, so for shy people it was easier to interact.”
Each Orientation Leader was given training before the weekend began. Nino Straub came in with his own ideas to help students enjoy OU.
“My personal goal for my group was to make sure the freshmen feel as comfortable as possible with their first time on their own on campus,” Straub said.
With the experience of their first year under their belts, the leaders know how important it is to make newcomers welcome and continually make OU their home.
“I plan on checking up on my group every once in a while just to make sure their college experience is the best it can be,” Straub said.
Boor hopes this will help others in their transition to college as it helped her.
“I knew some people coming in to OU, but with a new leader and meeting new people immediately, I feel more comfortable,” Boor said. “I met so many new people that I hope they stay and use orientation to it’s fullest.”