Activities:
-Discussed materials needed for Orientation and Orientation
Leader training
-Reviewed budget for Orientation
-Attended local store to retrieve supplies for Orientation
-Reviewed Orientation Leader presentations and gave feedback
-Led team building activities during Orientation Leader
training
-Assisted in checking students and parents into Transfer I
Orientation
-Assisted in escorting students and parents to sessions
Reflection:
This week has consisted of preparation for Orientation
season that began Friday with the first transfer session. I learned a great
deal about budgeting regarding Orientation. Analysis is used to determine which
items are of most importance when determining what to purchase in order to not
go over budget. Katie Corban, Bre (head Orientation Leader), and I went to a
local store to purchase all the materials needed for Friday’s orientation
session. We discussed what type of snacks would be best for the students and
their parents and determined exactly what we could spend without exceeding our
budget. In the end, we were three cents below budget. Talk about close! This
really helped me see the importance of a budget. Though extra materials were on
our list, we had to determine what not to get because we could not exceed our
budget.
The rest of my week consisted of working directly with the
Orientation Leaders. When listening to their presentations for orientation, I
learned a great deal about MUW including involvement on campus, residence life,
etc. I also learned the process of Orientation Leader selection and training
which all happened in the spring semester. Feedback was given to the
Orientation Leaders from both staff and the other members of the group. I was
very inspired with how well the team worked together. Katie and Jess, the
leaders of the Orientation Leaders, provided great examples of how to be a
positive impact for students. This made me realize the importance of being an
example for the groups being led. As a leader, the students in the group I may
work with will look to me as an example. I have to be mindful that negativity
can be contagious, especially when working with Orientation Leaders. Jess and
Katie made a great impact on these Orientation leaders by being professional,
yet personal and encouraging them through this entire process.
The orientation session itself was a great learning
experience. I thoroughly enjoyed gaining insight into smaller orientation
sessions. When I first realized that only around 30 students were attending, I
thought that the Orientation Leaders might lose their energy. This was not the
case at all. Their energy was incredible. They were so passionate about their
institution, as were Jess and Katie. I could tell the impact this had on the
parents and students that attended this session. Also, the session was
extremely personalized to each student. The parents got to break into sessions
in which they got to meet with faculty in their students’ departments.
Regardless of whether only one parent went to that department’s discussion or
ten, the energy and dedication was still present. I love the personalization
that each parent and student received.
All in all, this experience has been amazing. I am learning
so much and am constantly inspired by the positivity in this office. A passion
exists within this group that is unexplainable. I can only hope that one day I
present this same passion for the institution at which I am employed in the
future.
This is a photo of the Orientation Leaders preparing their
grand entrance for the day. Bre was giving a pep talk to everyone to start them
with a positive attitude.
Looking forward to this next week! Hope all of you are enjoying yourself as much as I am!
Nici McLarty
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