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.