Posts Tagged “new students”

Can’t every week be Welcome Week??

Posted on August 30, 2011 by Stephanie

Last week was Welcome Week…and let’s just say…I’m still getting caught up because I was so busy having fun. It was an AMAZING week full of meeting new people, helping our new students get settled in here at Butler, and doing every single activity possible. Since this is my senior year, I believe that will be the theme of my year: Doing everything….even if there is definitely not time. In fact, I didn’t really unpack until I had already been here for 7 days…yes…I lived out of piles and boxes for a full week…just because I was that busy. Here are several of the activities that I was super busy with:

The Quest-

I love The Quest…and there are really no words to describe it. Let’s just say it involves lots of dancing…competition…fun music…and being crazy? Is that good enough?

The teams...coming up with some awesome plans...

Academic Day-

This is the longest day of Orientation, because we meet with our groups to discuss the Welcome Week book, college expectations, and what to expect as a student in the COB. In addition to this, there is a convocation in the morning, and some pretty intense activities later that night (Playfair anyone??). So, its a big day, to say the least. Before we parted ways with our group….we were sure to take a photo….

My awesome orientation group...

They were amazing…and so much fun. I’m just sure that all 25 of them are going to be champions of college. Look at them….they will be taking names on tests and papers before you know it.

Late Night Party at Target-

Yep. You read that right…we had a party…at Target…for only the new students. It was their second day on campus, so they could buy things that they needed for their rooms if they wanted (I needed laundry detergent…so it was rather convenient), or they could just hang out, meet new people, and enjoy having Target all to themselves. We even had music (so there was dancing…naturally), food, games, and prizes. Talk about a great trip to Target…am I right???

Some SOGs at Target...we might have been more excited than the new students...it's fine.

I loved every minute of Welcome Week…and I’m rather sad that I will never again experience anything like it. So…I’ll share more about the week soon….because I just love it that much.

Tagged: Academic Day, book, freshmen, Moving In, new students, Orientation, studying, target, The Quest, Welcome Week | 1 Comment

So you’ve moved in…now what?

Posted on August 19, 2011 by Stephanie

Once you arrive on campus and you move everything in, there is a point in time where you just aren’t sure what to do. Either you haven’t unpacked much yet, and you aren’t sure how/what to unpack, or you don’t know where to go or what to do around campus, no matter what, it is an awkward and difficult time for knowing how to handle your first few days at Butler. So, here are a few handy dandy tips for getting used to campus and getting settled in.

Bond with your roommate. Even though you have probably already spoken to your roommate, use your time of getting settled in as a time to really break the ice, and work together for the first time to find solutions that work for both of you. For instance, you can brainstorm together about how to best set up your room, depending on your preferences, habits, and anything else important to you!
Get out of your room. Getting to know your roommate is important, but even more important is making the most of your experience. So, get out of your room, and participate! Go meet some new people at Starbucks, go to the Mall to hangout, or find something else to do. I am definitely a homebody, but I love being social, so I have to sometimes remind myself that the best way to be social is just to be out and about on campus.
Go to every possible Welcome Week event. There are so many, and they are going to be so much fun. So do EVERY one (but be sure to not drive yourself crazy…of course).
Explore Indy. This city is pretty great, so go check it out! I did a series of blogs on what to do out and about in Indy….so give it a shot! See what this place is all about, and what kind of awesome shopping, museums, and attractions there are all over the city.
Explore Holcomb Gardens. The gardens are one of the hidden gems of Butler University, so go check them out. I didn’t really know that they existed until a few weeks into my Freshman year, so go down there right away, and marvel at the beauty and at the awesomeness, that is right here on campus.

Mostly, just make sure that you keep in mind that this week is for you, the new students. The SOGs are all here to help with your transitions, so use us as resources as much as possible. We just want you to have a safe and healthy transition, and mostly, to LOVE Butler University!

Tagged: freshman year, Indianapolis, LinkedIn, new students, roommate, SOG, Student Orientation Guide, Welcome Week | Leave a comment

My #1 Tip for New College Students

Posted on August 18, 2011 by Stephanie

During SOG training yesterday, we had a discussion about things that we each thought were important to pass along to new students when they first arrive on campus. There was one thought that came up in our group that I thought was so important and pivotal that I wanted to share it even before all of the new students arrive on campus. Do you want to know what it is?? Well, you should. Here it is:

Be Socially Tolerant.

This is such an important aspect of going to college, because as I’m sure you are aware, college is completely different from high school. Of course it is different because you are moving away from home, taking harder classes, and potentially leaving friends, but all at once you are entering an entirely new social realm. For instance, in high school people tend to be catty, and they might stereotype people or exclude others because of their “type”, but in college, it is a completely different world. Now, I’m not saying that things are absolutely perfect in college, and that it is completely free of any high school drama, but it’s kind of as if people here are held to a higher standard of maturity. At college, people seem to understand that they will not be just like other people, and they appreciate those differences.

So, if you are one of Butler’s incoming freshmen this fall (or a freshman at any other school), take advantage of this unique opportunity you have. Let others surprise you, because you never know who could end up being a great friend, or even someone that you could learn amazing things from. When I met my best friend Meghan freshman year, I never thought that we would be inseparable 2 years later, simply because we are such different people. (i.e. I’m basically a carnivore, and she is an earth-loving vegetarian, among other things.) Be tolerant, and embrace your differences!