Getting Orientated
On July 15-16, I found myself at freshmen Orientation at The Ohio State University. How was it? Read on…
The Good
- I got to meet a fair number of really cool people. Getting to know my future classmates was nice, and I definitely left the experience with a few new friends. I’m what you might call a “people person.�
- The OLs (Orientation Leaders) were quite cool and very helpful. How they stay so energized all day long on so little sleep is a mystery to me. Super props to my OL, Meg!
- I actually requested Lincoln to live in this fall, so it was nice to see where I might be living for my inaugural college year.
- The scheduled programs were actually pretty cool, and I liked how each of them offered something fun, interactive, and sometimes even educational. Running all over campus with new friends on Campus Quest, creating our very own improv with the OLs at Orientation Night Live, watching amazing videos (read: Daily Show clips!) on getting involved at Ohio State, visiting supposedly haunted locales on campus after dark… The list goes on!
The Bad
-I didn’t have a roommate! How bizarre! Though many would find this to be a good thing, I was bummed to not be able to meet someone new.
-My BuckID photo is a cross between a zombie and a very, very ill man. $5 will need to spent on that replacement.
The Ugly
-The pre-scheduling speech. I know they mean well, but I don’t really need to sit for an hour and listen to how joining this non-engineering club or that non-engineering activity or taking a high-level math class will make me fail. I know that they really want freshmen to succeed, and to not be overwhelmed by the transition to college. But darn it, if I want to take higher math or join the band, I shouldn’t feel so discouraged about it. On the plus side, the actual scheduling after the speech was much smoother, and the advisors were extremely helpful!
I hate to end it with “The Ugly,� but hey, that’s Clint Eastwood’s fault, not mine! And besides, if you look again you’ll notice The Good is far and away the biggest section.
That’s it for now, take care!
-Rob