Anyone who attends Purdue, or knows anyone who attends Purdue, knows how big of a deal Boiler Gold Rush is. Being one of the best orientation programs in the country, it has a reputation to uphold. Being a new student in Boiler Gold Rush, or BGR, can be a life changing experience. Even more rewarding is being a Team Leader. Team leaders are given the wonderful responsible of being the first resource, first helping hand, first kind face, first person that new students interact with. It is a incredibly important job and requires over 500 volunteers. BGR is super fun as a new student, but as a team leader it is a whole different ball game. And there are some things that only team leaders do, that only they know, because four months of training will do that to you.
You know you are a team leader when...
... the excitement for new students outweighs anything else.
Team leader work tirelessly for months preparing to meet their new students and so the closer the day comes, the larger the excitement grows. In this excited, often other things are forgotten, such as sleep, hunger, or even that classes begin a week later.
... Move-In Day is an other worldly experience.
Positivity is commonplace among Team Leaders, and during move-in day, so is back pain. Purdue students can recall the wonder as your stuff was miraculously moved in for you during your BGR Move-In Day! Introducing those "miracles": 600 tired, sore, often soaked from sweat or in the case of this year, torrential downpours, volunteers who have been awake since about 6 am. The day is full of smiling through the pain, crying to yourself, and overworking yourself. Regardless, Team Leaders are happy to do it and move in new students!!
... You sleep whenever, and wherever you can!
During the week of Boiler Gold Rush, the days can easily be close to 20 hours long, meaning you aren't getting a lot of sleep. However, a traditional day has some breaks here and there, and during those times you will find Team Leaders passed out anywhere. They can be on couches in public spaces, sidewalks, lawns, in the audience of speakers, or in the dining courts. BGR is a great time to catch some #PurduePassOuts
... You always have energy to dance.
Yes, BGR is a tiring week. Everyday begins a new list of ailments, but when you walk into Elliott Hall and the music is playing, you can't help but start dancing, and trying to get others to do the same. It is a superpower that all team leaders have. Even if the dancing is awful, it happens.
... Living and breathing the Boiler Gold Rush experience.
Being a Team Leader is something everyone holds with honor. You become indulged in all this knowledge about Purdue University and Boiler Gold Rush and when you become a team leader, it means a lot to you. BGR is meant to be fun, and it is, but team leaders take their jobs seriously and do their best to make it the best experience for their new students.
