With Orientation Leader applications due by Oct. 29, those who want to apply must finish their applications and understand the significance of becoming an Orientation Leader.
Steve Pagios, director of student engagement, has been advising Orientation Leaders (OLs) in training to prepare them for Orientation. He understands the sacrifice and effort they put into this job.
“Being an Orientation Leader is such a unique experience. These students are the first significant relationships that the incoming class is making at Stonehill. OLs guide and mentor an incoming class in a way that no one else truly can. Some of our students come to Orientation with nervousness and anxiety, and our OLs get to be the first people to say, 'hey, you got it' and 'we’re here to support you,'" said Pagios.
“On the other side of it, OLs get to create a special relationship with a cohort of students going through this same experience with them. I'm speaking as someone who was an OL for two years at my undergraduate institution, being an OL not only helped me be a better student leader but gave me some of my fondest college memories,” he said.
Pagios said that incoming Orientation Leaders need to be aware that they are working with first-time college students.
“As we tell our OLs, one of the biggest mindsets they need to have is that it’s about the incoming class. When those students step on campus for the summer during Fall Welcome, OLs support these students through one of their biggest transitions to date. Outside of that, there will be some late nights and early mornings, so be prepared,” said Pagios.
Students may be unaware of what being an Orientation Leader looks like.
“My goal in advising our OLs is to prepare them. With the help of our student Core Team, we provide over 40 hours of training throughout the course of spring and summer, preparing them to be ambassadors of Stonehill, as well as giving them the skills to lead a small group. Luckily, it’s not 40 hours of presentations. We have fun and make sure OLs have the chance to bond with each other. I want all our OLs to look back and know that the time and energy they gave over nine months was worth it – not only for the resume and interview highlights but knowing they made a significant impact on fellow Skyhawks,” said Pagios.
Francesca Forcellati '27, an OL, said she is making a difference.
“My biggest takeaway from being an OL is the impact you can have on people. Part of the reason why I became an OL is because of the impact my OLs had on me. They made my orientation experience so memorable that I wanted to be an OL so I could create that same experience for fellow freshmen. It was very important to me to create a good relationship with my mentees so they knew that they always had someone they could rely on, even after orientation” Forcellati said.
“My piece of advice to possible other OLs is to get out of your comfort zone. For many, including myself, even becoming an OL was a huge step out of my comfort zone, and did not expect myself to apply. During training and orientation, there are many opportunities to step out of your comfort zone even more. I was scared to speak in large groups of OLs and that I was going to embarrass myself during team activities, but I was in such a welcoming environment that I was able to gain confidence in myself and grow as a person,” said Forcelatti.
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