New Student Orientation Experience

Orientation Weekend is an amazing time when the Zag community welcomes our newest members to the Zag family. First Year Experience Programs manages and plans New Student Orientation. Our goal is to make sure students feel like they belong to our communities and the first weekend on campus is as smooth as possible. New students will experience move-in, small groups and saying good by to parents and families as the weekend comes to a close. Here are the stories of the first days on campus from three current student’s perspectives.

Move-In Day by Josh McGuire, Human Physiology, Class of 2018, San Diego, California

• Move in day could be described as the busiest and most hectic day of your Zag life however it remains to be the most memorable time I have had here at Gonzaga. When I first arrived on campus I saw all the people gathered at Orientation Station for check-in. My first thought was “Wow this place looks like a fair rather than a college orientation check-in.” It was a bit overwhelming at first yet it felt good to be a part of this community.

While my parents parked the car in front of my residence hall, Crimont Hall, my brothers and I walk over to pick up my ZAGCARD and a Mission Shirt. We were stunned by the energy and the spirit plus Spike the Bulldog was running around giving high fives and taking pictures. Coming back to Crimont, I enjoyed it’s location. Everything I could have wanted was just a short walk away. The community was great and I still see many of the guys on my floor around campus.

I checked into my residence hall with my Resident Assistant (RA). I was nervous meeting them for the first time because I knew that they we in charge of the residence hall. However, instead of looking at them as a person of authority, I learned to see them as peers and guides. They are there to help you with any problem you may have and they have the resources and knowledge to direct you in the right direction.

My family and I started to unpack my clothing and put it in the drawers and closet. My Mom wanted to do everything because Moms being Moms are going to want to take care of you. So I let her fold my clothing for the last time. My Dad, brothers and I moved things from the car to my room and after many trips everything was finally coming together. My brothers helped me put up a couple posters and helped me set up my lamp, fan, and such making sure everything worked fine. After setting up my room my Dad said he needed to stock me up on food to make sure I am getting enough to eat. So we do a Costco run and just buy plenty of snack foods. If your parents come to visit you during the year they will want to take you to a store and stock you up on food. This is the point where most people will realize they forgot this or that. I forgot hangers so we had to make a quick run to Target to buy hangers. This was much more work than I anticipated and after a couple trips to the store we were finally done.

Once finished, my roommate, Cole, and his family came to the room and I met him in person. When I first met him he we seemed very different however after getting to know him we became friends. He was an engineering major and he was very interested in cars. We actually ran into each other at a restaurant later that day and so our families had dinner together.

The move in experience is more than just putting stuff into your room; it is more of a prolonged goodbye with your family and an extended greeting to the students living near you.

Small Groups by Salvador Guitierrez-Barcenas, Physical Education: Fitness Specialist, Class of 2019, San Jose, California

You will develop many friends, relationships, and families during your time at Gonzaga one of the first family you will make is the one with your small group during New Student Orientation. You will be assigned two small group leaders, who are upperclass students, so think of them as your guides to Gonzaga. My small group leaders contacted me through Facebook and created a group chat amongst other peers in my small group before orientation started. All of the group members were able to talk with each other and begin to start new relationships before we even took our first official steps as Zags.

During the Orientation Weekend, none of us felt like complete strangers because we had all previously talked with each other online. Orientation is a progression to Zaghood, but you are not alone because you have your small group family with you. You will have the opportunity to bond with more than a handful of your peers, of different backgrounds, different majors, but with one same goal to become a Zag.

Introverted or extroverted your small group leaders will make sure that each and every one of their small group members feels safe, comfortable, and a part of the family. You will laugh, discuss, maybe even cry with your small group, but that is all part of the transition from life at home to becoming an independent college student. There is lot to do during orientation, but mostly everything is centered on your small groups. You will slowly progress in team building activities, talk about your concerns, and get more comfortable with each other so that you have a set family to fall with throughout the year. For example, my small group would meet throughout the academic year to get frozen yogurt and talk about new things that were happening and how our transition was going. This is a group that you will grow with and always have to help you.

Family Goodbye by Melissa Mickey, Math Major (Secondary Ed Cert Track), Class of 2018, Kinnelon, New Jersey

Orientation Weekend is a whirlwind of emotions for everyone involved.  Families are trying to process their child finally leaving, and new students are realizing the amount of responsibility they now have to be an independent student.  During New Student Orientation, I met so many great people from my small group and residence hall. I loved hearing about all the activities and resources on campus, and I was finally feeling confident in finding my way around campus.  However, when I woke up Saturday morning, I had a harsh realization – I was going to be alone without my family. Obviously, I knew this time would come, but up until that morning, I could push off the fear and nerves until later.  But now, it was happening.

For most freshmen, their families would leave on Sunday, but since my mom had limited choice with when she could fly back to New Jersey, she had to leave a day early.  That morning I was getting to know people in my residence hall when my mom texted me.  She was coming over to say goodbye.  Too soon I saw her driving down the road.  I walked outside, gave her a big hug, and before I knew it the rental car was disappearing into the distance.

And then I was on my own.  Everyone I knew, every place that felt like home, (was/were?) over 2,000 miles away now.  Suddenly, the fears I had pushed to the back of my mind for so long flooded into my mind at once, “What if I don’t make any friends?” “What if I don’t fit in here?” “What if I can’t handle college on my own?”

All the friendly upperclass students, helpful staff, and resources on campus fled from my mind. I could only focus on how alone and scared I was without my mom. I had always considered myself to be an independent person, but that Saturday was tough. My confidence level in myself dropped and my nerves rose. However, I continued on with the activities for orientation that day.

When Sunday came and the other families left, all the freshmen were suddenly in my position as well.  Even with orientation’s small groups and fun activities, the finality of our families leaving affected us all in different ways.  It took a few days, weeks, or even months for some of us to acclimate to our new lives.  Personally, I found it difficult to connect with others at first, and thought I might had made a mistake coming to GU.

However, instead of calling home and choosing to give up, I actively searched for ways to make new friends and improve my first few weeks here.  I figured out what I wanted from my college experience and became more involved. I joined groups like Zag Study Buddies and Bulldog Band, I reached out to peers in my classes, and before I knew it my first semester was over. I realized I was going to miss GU and the people I had met during winter break.

For any students who are nervous about starting college, the best advice I can give you is this: Keep putting yourself out there. Join clubs, meet new people, and take advantage of the opportunities GU has to offer.  If you do that, with some patience and perseverance, everyone can find their place here.

These students have experienced the same welcome your Zag will experience the weekend of Friday, August 26 – Monday, August 29. Each Zag story will be unique to their experience as these three have been. Remember Orientation is a process, not an event. First Year Experience Programs is always available to help connect your Zag to resources and services even beyond New Student Orientation. Feel free to contact us at (509) 313-4016 or firstyearexperience@gonzaga.edu. See you soon!