July 14, 2003
College orientation.
For high school graduates who have chosen to travel near or far to go away to school, it's often their first taste of college life.
It can be hard to remember — surrounded by all the men and women who are the potential buds, possible hookups, and probable bitter exes of your future — that you're on campus to learn something.
I was in your shoes just a few years ago, stumbling around campus in a haze at orientation (there was lots of fog). Looking back, there are things I never considered that weekend that I later realized I did need to think about.
I talked to some students who are orientation advisers at Binghamton University, and I came up with the following list of things to think about at your college orientation:
• Learn from the experience of living with a stranger at orientation. They don't call them strangers for nothing, and you'll need to be prepared if your future roommate is the type who labels everything in the room as his, or keeps a collection of swords under her bed. Don't believe it if they say it's just for class.
• If you're registering for classes at orientation, venture to some courses outside your major. If you're into English, check out what those biochemists are doing. You never know what will tickle your fancy.
• Make sure you bring everything you need for the few days at orientation. Think ahead to what you'll need in the bathroom, during the orientation sessions, and for when you're sitting around doing nothing. Game Boy works great for all three.
• It may sound silly, but bring a pair of shower sandals. You never know what's growing on the floor of those shower stalls. And if it's green and talks, run, don't walk, away from the bathroom.
• Be an extrovert and don't be afraid to talk to people. At my orientation, a speaker told my parents to look around to meet the people who could be their future in-laws.
• Ask a lot of questions. If there was ever a time for stupid questions, orientation is it. You're there to learn as much about the school as possible, so ask now, because you'll really look stupid if it's the second week of school in September and you still don't know where the dining hall is. (Plus, you'll be hungry.)
• Play along with the silly icebreaker games. When you're at your school, with none of your high school buds, far away from home, do you have anything better to do?
• And most important: Have fun. You're not dealing with any classes yet, so just get to know everyone and find out about some of the fun things to do.
Ahmad is a student at Binghamton University.
© 2003 Press & Sun-Bulletin, Binghamton, N.Y.