2008 Woodie Awards
It's showtime: stand out, make your summer count
Student Life is searching for 2008 summer Orientation Leaders
Elizabeth Aveni
Issue date: 2/21/08 Section: Features
Shouts of inspiration fill the air.
If a team member slips up, students rush to their aid.
One of the advisors, having never climbed before, teeters at the top. With shouts of encouragement from the team below, she makes it safely over the playground.
As she comes back to solid ground, the people who were strangers only a few weeks ago surround her.
The newly formed bond of friendship was strengthened by the team building exercise. Now they travel to campus, to become leaders for next year's incoming freshman class.
The 20 strangers are the Sacred Heart Orientation Leaders. These different students are chosen to bring the new freshman into the upcoming school year.
They train for three weeks, working on team building and learning to deal with the stress of parents and new students.
"During the orientation its long days and nights but it's worth it because you're spending time with good people and you're getting to know the incoming class which is great too," said junior Orientation Chair Courtney Weaver.
Many positives of being an O.L. include getting to know faculty and administration, learning how to better interact with one another and gaining important communication skills.
"The work is fun and rewarding. The experiences you learn through this can definitely help you with the future where dealing with different types of people in a work environment is important," said senior Matthew Jarvis.
"I have never felt so exhausted after doing anything and not cared," said sophomore Orientation Chair Nicole Pepin.
Making an impact on student's first impression of the university and helping both parents and students alike get situated is enough to inspire the orientation leaders.
"Orientation has been the most life-changing experience for me. Being able to help students and parents cope with this transition period is so fulfilling," said senior Shaun Mitchell.
Each year, the orientation has a theme. Students are broken into groups according to this theme.
This year's "It's Showtime" Hollywood theme is featured to add to the cohesiveness of the program.
"As a new student walking onto campus it can be intimidating not knowing anyone, so placing each student in groups allows them to have some comfort and start fresh as a class," said Student Life Graduate Assistant Colleen Carney.
To become an Orientation Leader, all a student needs is an application. Students must be able to put the group ahead of themselves and let loose and have a good time.
"You can't really understand how much fun and how special orientation is unless you have experienced it for yourself," said Pepin.
The friendships you make and the memories you are able to experience are well worth the five weeks of commitment throughout the summer.
If a team member slips up, students rush to their aid.
One of the advisors, having never climbed before, teeters at the top. With shouts of encouragement from the team below, she makes it safely over the playground.
As she comes back to solid ground, the people who were strangers only a few weeks ago surround her.
The newly formed bond of friendship was strengthened by the team building exercise. Now they travel to campus, to become leaders for next year's incoming freshman class.
The 20 strangers are the Sacred Heart Orientation Leaders. These different students are chosen to bring the new freshman into the upcoming school year.
They train for three weeks, working on team building and learning to deal with the stress of parents and new students.
"During the orientation its long days and nights but it's worth it because you're spending time with good people and you're getting to know the incoming class which is great too," said junior Orientation Chair Courtney Weaver.
Many positives of being an O.L. include getting to know faculty and administration, learning how to better interact with one another and gaining important communication skills.
"The work is fun and rewarding. The experiences you learn through this can definitely help you with the future where dealing with different types of people in a work environment is important," said senior Matthew Jarvis.
"I have never felt so exhausted after doing anything and not cared," said sophomore Orientation Chair Nicole Pepin.
Making an impact on student's first impression of the university and helping both parents and students alike get situated is enough to inspire the orientation leaders.
"Orientation has been the most life-changing experience for me. Being able to help students and parents cope with this transition period is so fulfilling," said senior Shaun Mitchell.
Each year, the orientation has a theme. Students are broken into groups according to this theme.
This year's "It's Showtime" Hollywood theme is featured to add to the cohesiveness of the program.
"As a new student walking onto campus it can be intimidating not knowing anyone, so placing each student in groups allows them to have some comfort and start fresh as a class," said Student Life Graduate Assistant Colleen Carney.
To become an Orientation Leader, all a student needs is an application. Students must be able to put the group ahead of themselves and let loose and have a good time.
"You can't really understand how much fun and how special orientation is unless you have experienced it for yourself," said Pepin.
The friendships you make and the memories you are able to experience are well worth the five weeks of commitment throughout the summer.
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