Lakehead Orillia Ready to Welcome New Students at Orientation
Students at Lakehead Orillia's 2013 orientation head to the O-Cup hockey game against Georgian College Orillia.
As the summer comes to a close, students across Ontario are getting ready to head back to school. Attending post-secondary school is a big change for most young adults, as they move away from home and start a new chapter of their lives. It can be a very scary experience and one of the best ways to help calm those fears is to attend Orientation. At Lakehead Orillia, students can be guaranteed a great first impression of university life, as the campus began planning their Thunderwolves Howl: Orientation 2014 all the way back in April.
Over 300 new students will be coming to Lakehead’s Orillia campus on September 5 as the Orientation activities begin. Current students were chosen in April to act as Orientation Leaders, and will be welcoming students from all over Ontario and the world — some from as far as Nigeria and China. The event will be taking place over the course of the weekend and will have students exploring both the campus and the city of Orillia.
Attending Orientation can, at first, seem like an intimidating endeavour. I know that when I began my studies at Lakehead Orillia as a mature student, I was nervous to attend and even considered not going. Three years later, I am now an Orientation Leader and excited to welcome new students and help them transition smoothly into university life. Looking back at my experience, here are my top three reasons why I think attending Orientation is an important part for any incoming Lakehead students.
1. Meeting new people.
Nervous about starting your first year of university? Guess what: so is everyone else! One of the most beneficial things you learn within the first five minutes of getting to Orientation is that everyone is feeling the same emotions you are. Finding this out can be incredibly comforting and can help allow you to open up and begin talking to other students. Once you get talking, try to find some people who are in the same program as you, as this will establish familiar faces in your lectures and might even land you a study buddy or two.
2. Finding out what Lakehead has to offer.
Though you most likely have done your fair share of research before getting on campus, there are many things that Lakehead has to offer that you may not have realized, yet, including the Student Union, various clubs and organizations, on-campus jobs, and athletics. Orientation provides students the chance to explore current interests and even create a few new ones, all while having fun!
3. Getting to know Orillia.
Almost an entire day is dedicated to exploring the city because Orillia has so many different things to offer! You will get the chance to see the sights and sounds of your new home and learn the best places for eating, shopping, exercising, and entertainment! Loonie Lunch is a fun Orientation event in which new students can explore downtown and can grab lunch for only $1 at some popular restaurants including Mariposa Market and Think-Tank.
"We want to expose our first year students to the diverse opportunities available within the Orillia community, so having groups involved in the program is ideal. Through the Loonie Lunch, the downtown scavenger hunt, and EXPO, students will become more familiar with the city and what it can offer them,” says Anna Lisa Martin, current student and Orientation Assistant.
Even though Orientation may seem like an intimidating experience at first, choosing to attend is beneficial for any student. The Orientation Leaders at Lakehead Orillia cannot wait to welcome all the new students and introduce them to our great campus and city.