Barauskas - Week 1 - MUW Orientation and Activities

Photo courtesy of http://www.mississippiheritage.com/InsidersTour.html

I have already had a few meetings at the Mississippi University for Women (MUW) with my practicum supervisor, who is the Coordinator of Leadership and Service (the picture is of Cochran Hall, where my supervisor's office is). I have also met with various members of their admissions department, as I will be doing a great deal of work with them and their Freshman and Transfer Orientation sessions.

My first project is to design an activity/presentation to fill up an open time slot that they had during their orientation. I have been working on this with a fellow practicum student who is currently studying at Ole Miss. I learned earlier this week that my partner was in a car accident, which he is fine, but his car was totaled. And I just learned today that he is currently stranded in Jackson, MS, still without a car and will not be able to assist me in putting the finishing touches on the presentation, nor will he be there to co-present with me tomorrow at the first Transfer Orientation session. Of course, I am nervous to not have someone there to present with and assist in developing conversation among these students, but what do we do in Student Affairs? Roll with the punches!

Today was the second day of training for the Orientation Leaders (OL) and I met with them for the first time this morning. It was exciting to meet with them, and observe, which brought back all of my memories as an OL back at the University at Buffalo. I was a little nervous that I wouldn't be able to really help out, but as soon as their training got underway, all of my experience came rushing back to me and I was able to help out, and guide the OLs with their preparation for tomorrow's orientation.

I'm very excited for the first orientation session tomorrow, and I'll be preparing for that tonight, and then preparing further for the Freshman orientation session, which is on Monday. It will be a very busy week/weekend, but I will try to find time to give an update on how tomorrow goes!