Hey readers!
Long time no see :). I thought I’d get around to posting last week, then I arrived off my plane to Italy and was like: sleeeep. The Italy trip was great, by the way. I love Europe’s narrow alleyways, half as wide as I could reach out with both hands, laundry swinging in the breeze above me and ground paved with cobblestones. Venice was a trick to the eye wherever you looked, with buildings built on little islands and connected by bridges with mossy green steps sunk below the waterline. For me, Italy was also playing music in a hotel room with my sisters, learning their quirks all over again, and sitting around a food-laden table with my grandparents.
some Italy pics 🙂
A good trip, like I said. Being home for a few days with my parents was a gift as well. Though partway through my pleasurably aimless return home (eat, read, go shopping for school supplies mmm, work out, hang out, repeat), I was informed that not applying for things because I thought I wouldn’t get them was stupid, and I should get on that. Indeed, I had also been informed of this fact by Prof. A. at the Wellesley Summer poster session a few weeks ago. So I did begin work on all of those scholarships and fellowships that are available to graduating seniors, including during the road trip from Minnesota to Wellesley with my father, sister Leslie, me, and all of our stuff. Parents :). As per usual, they’re right about all of the important things :).
All of this road-tripping means… that I am now at Wellesley! And so pleased to be here :). Yesterday I started the Ask-Me training, as all of the student leaders on campus prepare for Move-In day tomorrow and the rest of Orientation Week for the incoming first-years. Yesterday I alphabetized and sorted all of the Welcome packets for the first years. Tomorrow I have a six-hour shift greeting all of you and your parents as you arrive on campus and find your dorms (and oddly enough, I know that I’ll be excited the whole time ;P). We have APTs, FYMs, AMPs, CG leaders, RAs, ISLs, tech coordinators, Ask-Mes (all student leader groups) working hard under our adult organizers, and I had no idea so much work went into making Orientation happen. It just seems so seamless when it’s happening… and almost all of the student leaders here are not getting paid, not getting special kudos in any way: just here because they want to be here, and want to help our newest students adjust to life at Wellesley :). It generates lots of fuzzy feelings in me, if you can’t tell. I love this school.
I’m now experiencing the strong urge to explain what APTs, FYMs, and the rest of Wellesley’s alphabet soup are… but I ran into a resource yesterday that will do this all for you! (I might end up doing it anyway :P). It’s called “Guidebook” and it’s a smartphone app that you can download. Now, hopefully most of you have already done this, but I’m smartphone-impaired, and yesterday I downloaded my first and second-ever apps, the second of which was “Guidebook” and the first was “Group-Me.” It’s confusing, people!
Guidebook not only explains what all of Wellesley’s abbreviations are, but has the master electronic copy of the Orientation schedule (which is awesome and also complicated, so having a copy of it is a great thing), a map of Wellesley, the dining hall schedule, etc.! Just looking at it, I know that so much work went into making it happen, but it’s smooth and beautiful now :). I’m sure there are instructions for how to download this online, but just in case (some instructions for the generally technologically-fine, but phone-incompetent people):
On your smartphone, get to the apps page (I get there on my Android by clicking a circle filled with six dots) and click on “Play Store.” Then click on the top search bar and search “Wellesley.” Download the one app that’s in there. (Ooh, instructions for non-Android devices!)
Once the app is downloaded, it will appear on your home screen… and you can use the app by clicking on the app on your home screen, then clicking on the pretty picture that says “Orientation 2014”, then (and this is the tricky part, not explained in the above instructions) clicking on the top left corner “Orientation 2014” picture again to bring up the main menu. I trust you know what to do from there. The two most important features in my opinion are “Schedule” and “Backpack.” The sheer amount of information packed into those two features make this worth downloading in my opinion, and I enjoy a healthy suspicion of phones :).
Not to worry though if you don’t want to download it—paper copies of the Orientation Schedule will be handed out when you arrive. I’m really excited about Orientation Week—my memory had been a little foggy about the events (since it was awhile ago), but the refresh has reminded me of just how well it’s put together. Monday’s Move-In Day, Tuesday’s Intro to College Day, Wednesday’s Placement Exam Day, Thursday’s Advising Day, Friday’s Intro to College/Fun Day, Saturday’s Fun Day, and Sunday everyone else (all the returning students) move back in. (ps, these are mostly my names. Don’t quote me on “Intro to College/Fun Day.” ;P) It’s kind of hard to tell what’s happening just by looking at the event titles on the Orientation Day schedule, but as someone who’s gone through Orientation, I can tell you that all of the activities are well-planned, thoughtfully considered, and by turns informative and fun. I’m so excited to meet all of the new first years :).
the Orientation motto, from the 2018 Facebook page 🙂
You also might notice, when you look at the Orientation schedule, that there are some overlapping activities. That means you get to choose which ones to attend! Here’s my advice for choosing activities: take it day-by-day (i.e., don’t worry about whatever else is happening the next day or at the same time), attend as many as you can (homesickness is hardest when you’re idle. If you want to hang out with new friends instead of attending events, that’s fine, but make sure you’re always doing something), and remember that this is your time to explore resources on campus. Whatever those resources may be for you (Office of Spiritual Life, Deans Office, the Sports Center, Area Coordinators, Resident Directors (RDs), Health Services, First-Year Mentor (FYMs), Athletic Mentor Program (AMPs) mentor, Academic Peer Tutors (APTs), Resident Advisors (RAs), International Student Leaders (ISLs)… and I know I’m missing some) this is the time to figure out who and where they are so you feel comfortable finding them later.
And, advice for general coming-to-college (the big day is tomorrow! It’s been a long time coming :)):
– You may be stressed, but don’t forget your parents are likely stressed as well. Cut everyone some slack, and remember it’s okay to take it slow; take a deep breath and calm down :).
– College is the best time of your life! You’re going to make fantastic friends, get a stupendous education, figure out who are you and what you want to do with your life, etc., etc. It’s going to be great—it is great, since you’re starting college out now! This has been one of my mantras for a long time, and it has been infinitely useful to me. It makes me remember and bring to mind all of the good things that happen each day, and how lucky I am to be living this life. It doesn’t matter where you are—it’s all about perspective :).
– You’re going to want to transfer. Everyone wants to transfer sometime during their first year, no matter what school they’re attending. This is normal. It will pass. It will get better. You can do it :).
– CONGRATULATIONS! You made it to Wellesley. The thing is, once you’ve made it this far, it’s actually really hard to fail (no matter how you may feel some days :)). You have the drive that got you here, which is really the most important thing. You have people around you to encourage, push, and support you. You have an environment that will expand your mind without you even trying. As long as you try (which Wellesley women can’t really help doing) then you’re going to be great :).
– Have fun. This is the most important thing of all, which all of the previous comments build into. Work hard, have fun, enjoy all that college has to offer. I’m going to miss so many things about being here after next year, because there’s no better place to push and be pushed, to live with friends and eat good food and study and be supported and have so many dang opportunities. Find what you love about Wellesley. Make a list. You’re going to hear from some of us about our lists… I’ve written a three-year love letter through the blogs, so mine’s the longest, not that we’re playing the “who can raise their hand higher?” game :P.
Much love to you all, readers. I’m so excited to have the new first-years come in tomorrow, and if you see me and want to talk to me, please come on over! Or shoot me an email at my Wellesley address (it will come up if you type my name in)—I’m happy to chat, give advice, refer you to my more knowledgeable peers. Here’s to a beginning for you all :).
My sophomore friend Lisa, who’s already set up her room at Wellesley. I can only hope my room decorations are as great as hers :).
Monica