1. Next Step: Orientation!
Picture this: you’ve been accepted to SUNY Geneseo, added yourself
to the Geneseo Class of 2020 Facebook page, submitted your roommate
request form, and now what? The anticipation, yet also anxiety of going to
college for the first time is constantly on your mind. How will this stress of
transitioning from living at home with your family to independently exploring
the college lifestyle be at ease? I’ve got an answer for you. Orientation! The
summer prior to your first semester at Geneseo, you will be invited to attend a
two-day overnight orientation program. This is a chance for our Orientation
Advisors, faculty, and staff at SUNY Geneseo to welcome you to our campus
and encourage you to make some lasting connections, leaving you excited and
prepared to come back for the beginning of the next chapter in your life.
So, you may be thinking, what even is orientation? Well, as a past
Orientation Advisor and current Student Orientation Coordinator myself, I think
I can give you an idea of what you are in for! Orientation begins with “moving
in” to your room for the night (yes, I looked like I was moving into my actual
dorm with the amount of things I brought). But have no fear; living in a real-life
dorm for the night with another incoming student will give you a sense of the
having a new roommate as a First-year Student and is an exciting opportunity
to meet a new friend. Next, you will attend the Welcome Ceremony, where
important people will present some words of encouragement and your
Orientation Advisors will introduce themselves. Orientation Advisors, also
known as OAs, are current Geneseo students, who each went through their
own transition, just like you. They are willing to share their stories, help you
make connections and act as a resource to answer any questions you may
have. Throughout a long day of discussions and presentations, your assigned
OAs will guide you and a group of other students through fun icebreakers to
get to know one another (so fair warning, be prepared with your fun facts).
Your OAs will also facilitate more serious conversations regarding common

2. issues that college students may face and allow for anonymous Q&A to give
you all a chance to ask any question you would like. Then, towards the end of
the night, fun activities like karaoke, marshmallow roasting, ping-pong and
more will be going on until midknight ( punny, am I right?), where you will
have a chance to interact with your future peers.
The next day is focused on registration and gives you a chance to meet
individually with an academic advisor to discuss classes you are interested in
taking. You are also welcome to attend the Information Fair to become more
familiar with other departments on campus as well as outside resources, such
as Banks and Health services, to accommodate you during your time at
Geneseo. Now, I can’t tell you everything that is involved in orientation or else
there would be no room for surprises! Although in the end your time here will
amount to the best four years of your life, college is a roller coaster and you
will have your ups and downs. The most important thing is to know how to deal
with issues when they do arise and, on the other hand, make the most out of
your time at Genseo because it will fly by before you know it!
Now, what kind of OA would I be if I didn’t offer a shameless plug
about how becoming an orientation advisor was one of the best experiences of
my life? (OK, a long shameless plug) Here it goes. As I was sitting in Wadsworth
Auditorium with my family on the first morning of my freshman orientation,
watching the comical skit that the Orientation Staff put on, I knew I wanted to
be one of them. Although, you might not have that same exact feeling of
anticipation, I’m sure something about your orientation will interest you,
whether it is the fun and energetic ice breakers, or on the other hand,
connecting with students and staff on a more one-on-one level. This past
summer, I had the pleasure of being known as OA Erica, and there are no other
words to describe it other than “the summer of a lifetime”.
Orientation Advisors consist of a diverse group of people that come
from a variety of majors, hometowns, and involvement. Regardless of our vast
backgrounds, we were all hired for the same reason, which was to lead a
successful orientation, allowing the Orientation Staff to become a cohesive,

3. tight-knit family. Although we had lists of responsibilities and worked long
hours, there were so many rewarding aspects of being an OA that made the
job such a special opportunity. The most significant gain I received from this
role was personal growth. I entered this new job completely blind, not knowing
any of my fellow co-workers as well as feelings of uncertainty of what to expect
for the next 6 weeks. Being surrounded by new people with new
responsibilities, I found, pushed me to go outside my comfort zone, become a
valuable team member, as well as take on more of a leadership role in the
group when necessary. As an OA I didn’t exactly have a second to breathe,
which may sound intimidating, makes the experience quite the adventure. From
running around to prepare for the early arrival students, to leading groups in
different “get to know you” games, to attending Late Knight activities where
we were expected to make fools of ourselves, singing karaoke to get others
involved; I learned a lot about my strengths and weaknesses. In the beginning
of our orientation training, the staff took a Strengths Quest quiz, which
analyzed and evaluated our strengths on a rating scale, leaving us with our five
top strengths. No two OAs had identical top five strengths, which accurately
represents how diverse of a staff we truly were. Balancing, these strengths with
one another was key throughout the summer. Although I was very driven to be
involved in every discussion with a new student or have a say in every decision
made as a team, it was important to know when it was a time to step back and
allow someone else to take the lead, or on the flip side, know when I should be
the leader. Trust was another key aspect of orientation that stuck with me.
Trusting your fellow OAs was so important to build this bond that makes our
work successful. Without this level of trust, we would not have been able to rely
on each other when necessary to complete a task. Lastly, maintaining a positive
attitude was a significant piece of orientation I still hold on to today. Having an
optimistic mind and spirit is truly contagious and encourages one another to
stay motivated and excited about any given task. While there were definitely
times when I was tired or maybe having a rough day, through the uplifting

4. attitudes of my fellow OAs, I was able to ignore those negative vibes and give
every incoming student the fully energized orientation they deserved!
I hope this further assured you that it is okay to be nervous as an
incoming student to SUNY Geneseo, however, remember that these nerves will
be put at ease. With a group of new students in the same boat as you, as well
as a comforting and enthusiastic group of OAs there by your side, you will feel
more familiarized with the college campus and excited to return! Additionally,
maybe this even encouraged you to apply to become an OA someday.
Congratulations on your acceptance to SUNY Geneseo, and I look forward to
seeing you at your orientation!