For months leading up to Emerson move-in day, all I heard about was how great orientation was. I watched the orientation video from last year countless times, watching the chaos of glitter, feathers, tutus, and spandex moving freshman into their dorms. Watching the video from the comfort of my room behind a computer screen, I thought orientation would be the best week of my life. Everyone seemed so excited, energized, and eager. But when I got to campus, my feelings changed instantly.
I moved in mid-afternoon on Aug 26th. I expected move-in to be stressful, but not to the extent it was. Trying to maneuver a precariously packed cart through throngs of screaming cheering people in the middle of the narrow Boylston sidewalk? Less than ideal. By the time I got to my dorm, I was so frazzled and stressed out by all the commotion, I was yelling at my parents and nearly in tears the entire time I was trying to unpack. I figured, maybe it’s just the stress of moving in. It has to get better, right?
Nope. I was met with loud, over-the-top, in-my-face people and activities at every event I went to. Even events in the cavernous Cutler Majestic Theater involved blaring music and dance parties in the isle. Now I’m an introverted individual. It takes me a little while to grow comfortable enough with a group of people to let loose. People shouting at me to get up and dance for half an hour did not help me feel at home. I just felt stressed, tired, and like I wanted to be anywhere else but Emerson.
Don’t get me wrong. I love Emerson. I absolutely feel at home and integrated into the community. But I only started to feel this way after the memories of orientation began to fade away. Once people stopped screaming, stopped trying to force everyone around them to be super pumped up and overly social, and stopped pushing me to attend large social gatherings, I began to settle in. Orientation week didn't give students a single moment to breathe.
One student commented, “It’s just too much, you know? They have you doing so many things in such high-energy, social situations, that those of us who need downtime and time to ourselves were miserable all week.”
I couldn’t agree more. I was unable to connect to my peers during orientation week because I couldn’t recharge my own batteries.
Emerson touts its diverse, welcoming atmosphere, championing orientation as the crowning culmination of Emerson culture. But orientation was not me at all. I went my first few weeks of college terrified that all everyone I met would be high energy, gregarious, and extroverted. It took me a while to realize that I wasn’t alone in feeling the orientation blues. So many of the people I’m close with now agree that orientation experience caters to extroverted people, creating an extremely exclusive environment. Where are the events for people who want to mingle in small groups? The time to recharge, take a nap, settle in? Despite the fact that most of the events aren’t “mandatory," Orientation Leaders extol the importance of going to the activities so much that it feels like they are. I felt guilty when I put the schedule down to do my own thing, thinking back to all the times I was told some version of, “You’ll meet your best friend at orientation!” This compounded my stress even more when I realized I wasn’t making those instant connections with people.
I strongly believe the orientation program needs to be critically evaluated. The enthusiasm and energy Orientation Leaders and staff bring to the experience comes from a place of good will, but can be off-putting. I think the biggest thing missing from orientation is a sense of balance. Emerson’s unofficial motto is “you do you.” I cannot even begin to tell you how many times I heard that phrase uttered over that week. But I felt like I couldn’t do me. I felt like I couldn’t take the time to get coffee by myself, meet people in small groups and lower-pressure situations, or just take the time to settle in to my new home.
Emerson is place of diversity. Let that diversity shine through during orientation week in the selection of the activities offered. Cater to all types of people – introverted, extroverted, or otherwise. Orientation is, after all, the first impression Emerson makes on its new student body. That impression shouldn’t leave students feeling alienated, stressed, and exhausted.
Ava is a freshman Writer, Literature, and Publishing major. She is a tea and coffee addict, cupcake lover, and all-around nerd. Feel free to ask her about her fandoms. You can contact Ava on Twitter and Facebook.