Doors Open for New Orientation Advisors
By Theresa Whitfield
As the approach of the new freshman class draws near, the hunt for Orientation Advisors has begun. The student coordinators and team leads put in tremendous effort into Orientation, one of the biggest events on campus, to make the start of college memorable for every new student at Catholic University.
The beginning of college is often an emotion-filled time for first years. There is excitement to make friends and experience a new place, along with the nervousness from leaving home and close friends, as well as the fear of the unknown. While most students had the opportunity to visit Catholic before deciding to enroll, walking onto the campus as a member of the new class opens up a whole new perspective of the school that cannot truly be shown through a tour on campus and staying overnight in a dorm.
Orientation is extremely important because it will be the first impression that the new students will have of the school. The students at Catholic University that genuinely love this school want to ensure a positive orientation experience that they can remember proudly.
“Orientation serves a vital role in helping families to say goodbye to their loved one and leave them in good hands,” said Colleen Yeckley, an Orientation Advisor team captain. “It acknowledges that the students, faculty, and staff care deeply about the well-being of all the future students who will soon call this place their home away from home.”
Every year, a countless number of students seek to play a role in orientation. These students apply to be OA’s, but only eighty students will be selected for the job. The application process began a few weeks ago, and the returning students are given first priority. Their applications were due last week, and they will be interviewed this week. The applications for the rest of the school, available on the Nest, are due on Friday the 8th.
Once all the applications are received, the individual process transitions to a group processing and is much more interactive. The applicants will engage in team building activities, including various ice breakers. The goal of this is to identify who has and the skills and characteristics of an OA, and how well they can work as a team.
There are two Group Processing dates, the first on Thursday, February 14th at 7PM and the second on Wednesday February 20th at 7PM. On both dates, the process will be held in Caldwell Auditorium.
Many students aim to be a part of this event because they care about Catholic University, and are enthusiastic about giving the incoming class the same first impression that they had at their orientation.
“I decided to become an OA after having an awesome experience during orientation as a
Former Orientation Advisors reflect positively on their times of being an OA and welcoming the new freshman to their new homes for the next four years, and while their planning for orientation is very demanding, the experiences they have are very rewarding. While many applications have already been submitted, the student leaders are still welcoming more. For more information on the roles and responsibilities, visit the Orientation website, the Nest, or reach out to any OA you know (including your own).
