It's Orientation Week!

by Georgia Laidlaw

Excitement mounts as Orientation Week kicks off at University College. This past weekend, hundreds of new students arrived on college grounds to participate in orientation activities at UC and beyond, marking the beginning of their undergraduate journeys.

Comprising the student-run, week-long UC Orientation and the college-administered and academically-focused Thrive Orientation, for many students, Orientation Week is the first opportunity to set foot on campus and understand key elements of college life, including campus navigation, course registration, financial aid, clubs and extracurriculars, health and wellbeing services, and learn more about the college’s storied history.

Shreyas, an incoming student who will commute from Brampton who is particularly interested in clubs like Model UN, benefited from the opportunity of getting into their routine and seeing campus for the first time. “I’m commuting and [orientation] actually helped me get used to that a bit,” they said, “I used my Presto card, got on a GO train and navigated my way to UC and the dining hall. I’m not used to that sort of routine so it helps.”

Orientation Week is also an opportunity for incoming students to have fun and connect with new friends in activities like themed social meetups, a games rush, an evening campfire, yoga breaks and an inter-college cheer-off.

“Teaching the new students to do the chants and cheers that we do is always fun,” says UC student and Orientation Leader Yan, who returned to lead new students after a positive first-year orientation experience of their own. “I had a really fun experience, so I’m excited to motivate the first years,” they said.

Run and organized by student leaders, UC Orientation is also an incoming student’s first time to see one of the ways they might choose to expand their skills while at university.

“One of the beautiful pieces of having a student-run orientation is that you get natural community building and start that leadership journey for students on day one,” says UC staff member Ryan Kavanagh. “[New students] can see that students are running this, doing the work, and helping them have a really good entry into university. That is really powerful, and the UC Orientation team is very aware that they are building community on campus and providing students with their first friends and first look at a new chapter in their lives.”

For UC Orientation Chairs like Laiba, who work throughout the summer in preparation for the week’s activities, seeing everyone come together and take on the spirit of the college is what makes orientation so great. “I love the people. I love doing the preparation for the events,” she says. “UC’s spirit is care, kindness, respect, being there for everyone and having people be there for you, and I think that really goes a long way.”

When asked to reflect on how she’s grown from being a first-year student to a UC Orientation Chair, she’s learned that communication and seizing opportunities are key. “I’m often quite silent, but I have realized over the years, and especially in this position, that the more you go and talk to people, the better it is for you. Sometimes things that you don’t realize will click for you do, and you end up meeting someone who's going to be your lifetime best friend.”

With half a week of activities left, you can still see our newest students in bright blue t-shirts as they tour, race and cheer their way across campus.

Welcome, University College class of 2029!