Issue date: 8/17/08 Section: Opinions

The second objective, making connections with fellow students, was more difficult to address. Many incoming freshmen were so concerned with enrolling in classes that they failed to realize that forming relationships was an equally important aspect of Summer Orientation. In several cases, students who enrolled in the morning simply skipped the lunch activities and the afternoon information sessions. Many students participated, but only reluctantly, or attended, but refused to participate. Yes, the games were cheesy. Yes, it can be awkward to make conversation with people you don't know. But the students who participated wholeheartedly in these activities had a much more enjoyable Summer Orientation experience than those who didn't.

If you were among the non-participators at Summer Orientation, just look at Truman Week as a redo. Many of the activities that will take place this week might seem silly on the surface, but if you bite the bullet and get involved, you might find yourself actually enjoying Ridiculous Relays or Lip Sync. At the very least you will be able to meet your fellow competitors and form relationships that might develop into friendships.

So what's holding you back? If you are afraid that jumping on the bandwagon will have a negative effect on your individuality or "coolness," you would do well to remember the words spoken by one of my fellow orientation leaders: "You go to Truman now. You're not cool." The sooner you accept this and embrace your inner geekiness, the better your University experience will be, so get out there and get involved.

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