Hillary Weiss

Editor

Adrian, Mich.— Freshmen. First memories. First Year Experience. One amazing thing.

For many Siena Heights University (SHU) freshmen, one amazing thing started Aug 21.

Moving in a new college student can be a stressful, joyful, and tearful for family. But this is the chance for students to spread their wings and start over at a new school. They may not know anyone. They may not know where much of anything is (expect for their room and the Fieldhouse or theatre). One comforting thought for family and students, though, is with SHU, there is a week of transition made for freshmen to help them get associated with the other freshmen, faculty, and the university.

Freshmen are sorted into groups, or teams, according to their First Year Experience (FYE) class and professor. These teams are used for Welcome Week for activities, and depending on attendance and team participation, the teams will earn points. It is truly a week about team work and for other freshmen, faculty, and selected upperclassmen (Resident Assistants and Orientation Team leaders) to get to know the freshmen class.

Some of the activities of Welcome Week 2013 included the Mad Rush to Wal-Mart for any students that may have forgotten something at home, Dinner and Book discussion at the home of a SHU faculty or staff member, a film, “Now You See Me”, on the fifty yard line of the football field, and a day at Camp Michindoh full of swimming, sand volleyball, and, to top it off, a campfire with songs.

The common read, which all freshmen, faculty, and staff must read, for the class of 2017 is “One Amazing Thing” by Chitra Divakaruni. A group of people stuck in a critical situation share a story about his or her “one amazing thing.” The Dinner and Book discussion discussed what the students and staff thought about the book, how it connected to them, and even what their one amazing thing is.

Zach Hiser, a Communications major who is already involved in marching band and Freshman Transition Scholars Program (FTSP), had many positive experiences with Welcome Week. “My favorite things about Welcome Week were the book discussion and the comedian.  I really enjoyed the book discussion because it gave us as students to reflect on the book and our lives, which always brings people closer together.”

Welcome Week truly does bring people closer together. It also helps freshmen learn about SHU’s campus. Students can find out where their classes are and opportunities for jobs and leadership positions at SHU.

When freshman Dani Deshano, a Special Education and math major, was asked if she wanted to be a part of any leadership positions, she replied, “I would love to be an Orientation (O-Team) leader! It would help with my teaching career. There are also many other things that I would like to join after going to the Student Organization Fair.”

Before Welcome Week, Orientation Team leaders go through five days of training to make sure that the leaders are prepared for any situation thrown at them, including members of the team not wanting to participate.

Senior O-Team leader and Psychology major Kaily Sims shared, “Being an orientation leader this year has been the best year yet! I have made bonds with the other orientation leaders that will last for a very long time and the students I had during Welcome Week were so full of spirit and smiles. I feel very lucky to have had this opportunity, and I recommended it for students that were on my team.”

Talking about the O-Team as a whole, Sims said, “The teamwork and dedication that is put into Welcome Week is hard to explain. There are parts that are hard but mostly it is full of fun and learning more about you as a person.” Vicky Wright, the Director of First Year Experience, and Gabe Dunbar, the Director of Student Engagement, are the tireless coordinators of Welcome Week. Their talent, hard work, and love for their jobs and the students all make Welcome Week enjoyable. As the SHU FYE website says, “College is one of the greatest transitions a person will face. We want that transition to be as smooth as possible for all students.”

Transitioning from high school to college can be tough. Not only does Vicky Wright organize the First Year Experience classes required for freshmen that are about change and understanding different opinions, but Wright also gave some advice to incoming freshmen (this can also be suggested to any college student). She said, “Go. To. Class.  8 a.m. or not.  Show up. That means mentally as well as physically. Take a break from Facebook and Twitter every now and then and be in the here and now. The next four years are yours to be entirely and completely selfish-use them. Find yourself and others will find you.”