Opportunity: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
When I got the phone call letting me know that there was a spot open on the Orientation Leader team, to put it simply, I freaked out and excitedly shouted "yes! yes! yes!" into the phone. On May 10th, 1:58 p.m. (I checked), in a one minute conversation, I was being given an opportunity that would change my life, I just didn't know that yet.
Most of us remember our college orientation. The cringe-worthy icebreakers, impatiently waiting to see all of the dorms (I mean...residence halls), introducing yourself to someone and hoping that you didn't sound too eager or too shy, the hit-or-miss identification card reveal (OMG, I literally can't. Can I retake it?), and the first, uncomfortably quiet, and delicious meal as a Red Fox. And who could forget the ridiculously early wake-up call and endless amounts of coffee before arriving to the school? Freshman orientation is a hectic, but productive day. After my own orientation last year, I realized the two orientation leaders I had will always be what I remember most. I will never forget their genuine enthusiasm to welcome all these awkward and terrified freshman. They had the answers to everyone's questions, and they told us all the tips and tricks we needed to know to survive our first year, it's like they were superheroes in red polos, instead of capes. I wanted to be just like them.
Fast forward one year later, and I'm putting on my very own red polo and khakis before the sun is even out. Am I working for First Year Programs, or Verizon? Never mind, welcome to Six Flags! It's my first day as an orientation leader. After three days of presentations, rehearsals, memorizing what FERPA stands for and being prepared for any question a student or parent might throw (What do you do on the weekend?), we were ready. With each new day, I would fall in love with a new group, and saying good-bye at the end of the day felt like dropping off my own kids at school. Bye! Make good choices! Make sure to tweet at 4pm! Every day was the same routine (Hey foxes!...No more coffee for the red shirts, not a drop!...Pizza for lunch..."The Talk"...The Promise...Debrief, keep it brief!), but there was always something unique that made each day special, and there was always a new opportunity to improve.
So, what was so great about orientation? What made it so "life changing" and unforgettable? Why did I leave the campus crying on my last day? I'll tell you why.
They're called the licensed magic carpet drivers.
On the first day of orientation training, I sat in a room with some friends, but mostly people I had never met before. I recognized a few people from classes, and others from clubs we participate in together, but if someone asked me to name everyone in the group, I wouldn't be able to. Somehow, we were expected to become a team in three days, but experiencing orientation together for two weeks gave us an opportunity to become a family.
Some might say that two weeks is nowhere near enough time to develop this kind of relationship with a group of people. They might say that it's just a short, intense phase of friendship because we all lived with each other, and that it will pass. These are false, and that can be proven. Even after a full month of being apart, we still talk in the group chat, send each other Snapchats of singing songs that remind us of each other, and even visit those who live close by. We also faced challenges that come with spending so much time together. Of course, after working hard, we get tired and irritable. Sometimes, we disagree on even the smallest things. Other times, we might just have those "I love you, but I really can't stand you right now" moments with one another. While we had a lot of fun, we faced the same challenges that anyone else would when living with a group. What made us stand out was our ability to overcome that and effectively deal with those challenges, making us a stronger team.
Everyone in the orientation family is unique. We come from different races, ethnicities, backgrounds, social groups, interests, and pasts. While some of us might share the same passions for a sport, performing, the gym, music, a certain career path, Disney, or food, we have our own individual story that sets us apart. The orientation leaders have the ability to understand and appreciate these stories, and I think that's where the family feeling started to set in.
In other words, we are all a unique puzzle piece, and sometimes we might be unsure of where we fit in, or what our purpose is. Before those life changing two weeks, I was unknowingly missing something. Every single person involved with orientation filled a gap in my heart that, quite honestly, I didn't even know existed. There is so much love in this group. There is so much enthusiasm to be with each other, no matter what time of day. There is so much unconditional kindness. This experience opened my eyes, and I really needed that, so I will forever be thankful to have been chosen for this position. We are all a unique puzzle piece, but when we're together, we make a beautiful picture.
There is no other group that I would want to wake up with at 6am while music blasts in the hallway. There is no other group that I would want to lose my voice with while we chant and cheer for the incoming foxes. There is no other group I would rather want to jump into the Hudson River with (10/10 recommend. Bring a GoPro). There is no other group that I would want to have dinner with every day, mainly because a lot of people let me eat what was left on their plates (thanks guys!), and there is no other group that I would want to pretend to be related to so we could have Thanksgiving dinner together. I still miss them like crazy, and there is no place that I would rather be right now than with them eating chipwiches.
Opportunity: a set of circumstances that makes it possible to do something.
At orientation this year, I was given the opportunity to be part of a group that I proudly call family.
