Why did I choose to become an orientation advisor (OA)? For starters, I would like to help incoming students have a UT experience as good as mine if not better. Even more so, I signed myself up so that I could be taken outside my comfort zone. I would like to be challenged, tested, and extended. Throughout these next couple weeks, I would like to share with you all my experiences as an OA.

Although there are many responsibilities that come with being an OA, there are only a few “core” responsibilities. One of them is to work with a “wing” of approximately 20 (residential) to 80 (commuter) students. During meetings, I present information that is relevant to them and be “on-call” for them. Like each wing, I had to come up with a theme. In my case, I decided on using my noise-making stuffed animals as a theme. Although my fellow OAs find them amusing and slightly annoying, they rest assured knowing that they will be on display for a significant portion of my job. Besides that, I worked in the OAABBQ committee to prepare the break room and other events for orientation advisors.

At every opportunity possible this week, the committee would retreat to The OAsis, a break room for orientation advisors. Our committee consists of five women and two men (including myself). Until we reveal it on Thursday next week, the place is our retreat as we make preparations. This year’s theme is being on the beach. As we worked together, my cohorts talked about a few things that I did not know much about, bringing out the quiet side of me. They are very much committed to taking me out of my shell and beyond my comfort zone.

One of the things that are slightly beyond my comfort zone is speaking in public. To improve this, I signed myself up to perform a Social Justice monologue. The Social Justice performance exposes incoming students to the wide range of social and gender identities they will encounter during their time on campus and attempt to dispel some myths that surround each identity. Following these, we break the students up into smaller discussion sessions. Although I am currently unable to sign up for those yet, I plan on leading a discussion session on Social Justice and Campus Issues (campus safety, alcohol use, and sexual assault).

In these upcoming weeks, I anticipate the challenge of speaking to a group of people. In return, I hope to gain more confidence in presentations and gain better intuition on reading the audience and people. I am also glad that the person I love has been accepted to the University of Texas, and I look forward to being her orientation advisor.

Over the past month, various developments explained the deaths of many pets throughout the nation. We first narrowed down to tainted pet food; but when we delved deeper, it turned out that it was the wheat gluten at fault because it contains melamine, something used to fake the presence of protein [1]. These poisoned goods continue to stream in [2].

As seen in my Lenovo ET960, this shoddiness extends to things like computer hardware (via the “It compiles… ship it” mentality) and in safety-critical things [3]. At this rate, I doubt whether China deserves to be considered America’s trade partner, let alone an “economic leader.” I am angry at the people who would make such a bad name for us Chinese people, and I fear the day that I may be labeled as a dishonest person on the basis of my nationality. The only reason why I can sleep at night is because I know that my fear is unlikely to happen. Instead, I see people beginning to boycott goods originating from China altogether. Yes, now is a great time to be an American and to buy American goods.

Sources:
[1] http://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/30/business/worldbusiness/30food.html?ex=1335585600&en=dd852b2af8137ac7&ei=5088&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss
[2] http://consumerist.com/consumer/the-end-is-nigh/chinese-poison-train-declared-unstoppable-next-stop-you-262006.php
[3] http://www.theinquirer.net/default.aspx?article=30671

I know the delay was a bit much, but I recently received news that someone created a map resembling Clements High School in a first-person shooter. For this, he was removed and placed into alternative school and now unable to graduate with his friends. OK… so they found a hammer in his room, but is a hammer solely designed to hurt people? I think not. Do video games cause people to become violent? Check my previous post — Cho didn’t play video games.

I remember the days when I blissfully followed every rule in the book. Those days ended during my senior year of high school as I realized how phony my surroundings were: I was in a club of hypocrites (SADD — all the officers except for me made “destructive decisions”), my year with Student Council was a waste of time (sure, the trips were fun, but did we make any changes to the school? Don’t even answer that.), the teachers had to teach to some vegetative test called the TAKS, and innovation is a taboo.

Source: http://www.fortbendnow.com/news/2847/chinese-community-rallies-behind-student-removed-from-clements-over-pc-game-map

By the way, I hear that prom tickets are $85 over there if you buy early. What’s the prom favor? A diamond-studded ring for your date? Oh, wait! I remember now… Student Council doesn’t do jack! On the other hand, I went to a ball last weekend. It was only $25 per person and featured a local orchestra!

Although my life here in college is difficult, I really could not be happier. I truly feel the opportunity to touch lives and to challenge the status quo.