The Summer I Turned Into an Orientation Leader

This past summer, as the sun began to warm up the city of Boston, I embarked on a unique and exciting adventure, deciding to work as an Orientation Leader (OL). This experience turned out to be a life-changing one, filled with personal growth, lasting friendships, and the opportunity to welcome incoming students to one of the most vibrant and dynamic campuses in the country.

As an OL, my main responsibility was to help incoming students and their families transition to life at Northeastern University. Welcoming hundreds of eager and nervous students to campus was an incredibly rewarding experience. I had the opportunity to answer their questions, calm their concerns, and share my own experiences as a Northeastern student.

The journey officially began with five weeks of training which is where I got to meet the incredible team of thirteen fellow Orientation Leaders who would soon become some of my closest friends. During this time, we learned about the university’s history, culture, and the resources available to students. We also received thorough training on how to lead and facilitate group activities, communicate effectively, and ensure a smooth transition for incoming students.

Each orientation session would begin with an Early Arrival (EA) day when students were able to check in a day early. During the EA evening, we would run optional excursions, such as a trip to Coldstone Creamery or Mike’s Pastry. The following day, we started bright and early to check-in the remaining students. Looking back, I will always be fond of the memory of running into Blackman Auditorium with all the OLs cheering and hyping up the students to kick off orientation. Throughout the day, we would hold small groups meetings, academic advisor meetings, and campus partner presentations to ensure that incoming students felt ready for their time here on the Boston campus. Lastly, we would end the day with a neon ice cream party in Centennial Common with Ben & Jerry’s and mini Huskies to paint. The next morning, we would gather the students in the Snell Quad to lead the rock, paper, scissor tournament with Paws, a favorite among many OL’s and incoming students. Finally, the orientation session would wind down with more campus partner presentations and academic advisor meetings.

One of the highlights of this role was leading group excursions. Over the course of orientation and welcome week, I got to take students to View Boston, Fenway Tours, Freedom Trail Tours, New England Aquarium, Cold Stone Creamery, and Duck Tours. These trips allowed the incoming students to get to know the city they would call home for the next few years, and connect with other incoming students. While I have already spent a year here in Boston, it was exciting to get to explore new parts of the city that I have not previously visited. I love continuously finding new things to do in Boston, something that draws in many prospective students, including myself a few years ago.

Being an Orientation Leader was a transformative experience for me. I developed strong leadership and communication skills, which I know will serve me well in my future career. I learned to support and connect with people from diverse backgrounds. It was a lesson in empathy and understanding that I’ll carry with me throughout my life.Nothing beats seeing the impact I can have on the incoming freshmen by giving them positive, first experiences in Boston.