This past weekend I was given the amazing and ultra-fulfilling opportunity to be a New Student Orientation (NSO) Orientation Assistant (OA). Taking on this role meant being a part of the dedicated team tasked with helping the freshman class of 2020 become acquainted with their new home at Niagara University. Programs like these are instituted to raise enrollment and retention rates for the freshman class, as one out of three freshman will dropout from university within their first weeks. As the events rolled back-to-back through the three day schedule aimed toward helping first year students put down roots on campus, a plethora of thoughts came to mind that I couldn't help but share.

1. "...why am I up at 5 am?"

I am not a morning person. My morning usually clocks in at around noon, on average. It's a problem. But even though I was tired and it took me a second, I was so excited to help with orientation!

2. "How many freshman can live on the eighth floor?!"

I'm a commuter, so I've never had to climb the stairs to O'Shea eight before now. And I never want to do it again, my god. It's three days later and my legs still hurt every time I walk up or down stairs. Why do residents have so much stuff? They can't possibly fit it all in their rooms!

3. "I'm not crying! You're crying!"

The speeches at convocation honestly brought tears to my eyes more than once. I remember what it was like to sit in those chairs, staring up at the official board for my university, excited and anxious about the next four years of my life. I sat above the stage this time, looking down and realized I'm already halfway through my time at NU. It was rough.

4. "Ouch. My face hurts from laughing so much."

It was middle of the first day when I realized my face was aching from how hard I was laughing and smiling with the freshman, Orientation Leaders, and my fellow OAs.

5. "Mass on the Grass at sunset is the most beautiful thing I've ever experienced."

I don't go to mass often, but I'm really glad I stuck around for Mass on the Grass. Watching the sunset behind the altar as we celebrated and worshiped took my breath away. (That's me in the pink on the far right!)

6. "Purple fortune cookies taste like grape."

We got so many free trinkets on the walk to Whirlpool, it was like a mini purple Christmas! Among the goddies were candy, ice pops, ID card holders and, yes, purple fortune cookies that tasted like grape. (Mine didn't have a fortune!)

7. "These keynote speakers inspire and scare me at the same time."

I adore the inspirational speakers my university brings in to speak to the freshman. I learned a ton from the speakers at my orientation and the ones that I got to listen to this time around. I feel inspired to live my best life but with a slight tinge of fear at the time I've wasted already.

8. "Foam pits are fun until you have to get out."

As fun as those bubble were, riding home covered in sticky soap residue is something I'll have to pass on next time around!

9. "P-I-N-K! That's all we gotta say!"

Go, Team Pink! We are little but fierce, decked out in pink ribbon and beads, armed with silly string. To mud volleyball!

10. "Where are all these glow sticks coming from?!"

The fireworks were beautiful, but what was incredibly entertaining, if not a bit unbelievable were the plethora of glow sticks tossed back and forth through the crowd. I think I made it home with about eight!

11. "..I want to be a freshman again."

This whole weekend made me want to turn back time and start all over so I'm able to experience my time here at NU over and over and over again. I will always be a Purple Eagle and I will forever #feelthespirit.