Orientation Leader Advice from former Orientation Leaders

December 9th, 2011 by tstjohn

Wondering what its like to be an Orientation Leader??

Not sure if you should apply??

Here is some advice from two former Orientation Leaders Jessical Hamel and Tara Connell!!

Jessica Hamel is a Fourth year Education major from Candia, NH. She was a Transfer and Fall OL, and she was an Orientation Advisor.

Why you liked being an OL?
Being an orientation leader gave me a strong support system at UNE! I met some awesome people who i am now proud to call, my best friends. I loved being able to help the new students adjust to UNE, a place I love and call home! The connections I was able to make with students, peers and professionals is priceless and it made me really feel like I belong at UNE!!
 
What you learned from Orientation? 

I learned so much from orientation. I learned about myself, about others and about the university. I learned about professionalism and how to conduct myself appropriately in different situations. I learned how to work with all different types of people and how a small gesture, like a hello or smile, can go a long way!
 
Why others should apply to be an OL?

Being an orientation leader is one of the best experiences I have ever had! It made me who I am today, and to be apart of something much bigger than yourself, is incredible! It gives you a sense of family, belonging and it gives you the chance to make a difference! It is one of the best times of my life, and I wouldn’t trade it for the world!

 

Tara Connell is a Fourth year Psychology major from Billerica, MA.  She has been an OL for three years, taking part in Summer and Fall Orientation.

 

Why you liked being an OL?

The thought of coming to college scared me; I was extremely nervous throughout my orientation. The anxiety of college slowly simmered in my first year when I decided I wanted to be an Orientation Leader. I was so impressed by them during my orientation, especially how they tried so hard to make me comfortable and excited. I wanted to be able to be there for future students as my OL’s where there for me. My favorite part about being an OL was helping people step out of their comfort zones and make new friends. Also, I was able to meet new people and develop my own relationships and identity as a leader on our campus.

What you learned from Orientation?

The most important lesson I learned through orientation is that if you don’t take chances you’ll never know! Orientation has provided me with so many opportunity’s, and if I didn’t take the leap out of my own comfort zone I would never be where I am today.

Why others should apply to be an OL?

Orientation Leaders are an important part of UNE. As student leaders we have a fun responsibility to be role models to our fellow peers. We develop relationships with each other as well as faculty and staff throughout campus. The opportunities received by being an OL is an endless list!

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