Dear Freshmen,
I know you think we're psycho, too energetic, loud, cheesy, and repetitive, but it's so much more than that. We were in your shoes once, some of us just a year ago, and we know what you're experiencing. We left home, we sad goodbye to our parents, we lived in the shoebox rooms, we get it. And that's why we're here to help.
Each and every one of you has so much potential and even though we only get the chance to know you for a short period of time, we see it. Whether you talk to us every day during the next four years, or never talk to us again, we know that you have an amazing adventure ahead of you. We preach a lot about involvement (O-Fest), but honestly there are so many organizations on campus to become involved in. JUST DO IT! Then maybe we might shut up about it, just maybe.
We know that orientation activities and the week in general can be tiresome, but we try our best to make it exciting and fun. I know we look absolutely ridiculous while attempting to make it fun, but we really do want to welcome you to school and reassure you that this is the perfect place for you. What we do is more than just our job, we love our school and we want you to feel the same way. We want you to laugh with us at the awful jokes we make, constant dancing, and insane high energy. It's all for your benefit!
Everything we do, we do it for you. All of you and your excitement for college put smiles on our faces, and remind us of how fun college is. This week was where I met some of my best friends, and to see some of you become close friends with your fellow group members warms our hearts. This is your home now and we want you to feel as welcomed as possible. Ultimately that is our main goal, to welcome you to campus, and we may never know if we achieve our goal, but you have to know that we did our best.
These next four years are going to fly by, but don't be surprised if every time we see you on the street we say your name and yell hi. We all have orientation week in common and I hope when somebody asks who your orientation leader was, you'll remember me because I know I'll always remember you all. It sounds dumb, but you all are some of the coolest people I've ever met, and I know I will never forget my orientation experience with you guys (oops, not supposed to say guys, first-time students).
I hope you all learned something new about yourselves during the orientation activities. Even if the only thing you learned was how much you hate ice breakers, I'll take it! I know I learned new things about myself, especially what being a leader truly means. So lastly, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you for laughing at my horrible jokes, weird comments, and awkward dance moves. Thank you for being yourselves. Thank you for allowing me not only to be your leader, but friend. I hope I see you around campus, and seriously if you ever want to get food...HIT ME UP!
Y'all rock. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people.
Have an amazing four years if we don't see each other again, but I'm hopeful that we'll see each other around. (I love food, so...just saying.)
Love always,
Your Orientation Leader
