It is about that time of the year again where the freshmen break into a college environment. They tend to either be scared and lost or happy and excited. These actions are understandable because college life is a substantial change from homelife. You can not possibly know what background each student has lived but you can know how they act know. Upperclassmen, This is where you come in. This article is to explain to you how crucial it is to accept the newbies of your college.

If you go to a college like mine, you know that "We are a Family." There is not a person here who disrespects another individual with intention of causing pain. Now, I am not saying the people here are perfect, I am just stating a fact that we are friendly. When the freshmen came here, we put together something called orientation. This is our time to welcome the new students with open arms. There are games, fellowships, worships, team building and much more. As leaders, our goal was not to be the overlords, but to introduce them to life long friends. How many of us actually continue a relationship after everything's said and done? Easy, in some way we all keep an amount of freshmen that we care about.

So what to you need to do? Do not treat them as if they were a plague in the 1400s. Instead, make them feel accepted! Introduce them to your upperclassmen friends and get them involved. Do not let the freshmen stay in one spot with a small group. It is important that you show them how to expand their horizons and get a little bit out of the comfort zone.

Though you may be seen as a leader, do not become arrogant. It is not your job to have them follow you around everywhere. It is okay to hang out with them even if it is all day. After all, you are like family. Just make sure you are not the mom or dad, but be the brother or sister. Like with all of your friends, you have to be sure there are boundaries in order to have successful communication. Maintain time for yourself and don't feel obligated to remain in their presence twenty four hours a day.

It may also be beneficial to show them the ropes around campus. Tell the new students about your experiences freshman year. This make help them to build confidence and definitely increase their comfort factor. It is also essential that you not hang your self with the ropes that were given. Be sure to not over explain things or to try and change them into you. There are their own individuals and can stay themselves.

With all of that said, approach the new students with love, respect, and equality. They are a new part of your college family!