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Hi there, and welcome to The O Show, everything you need to
know about orientation at McMaster.
I'm your host, Lindsay Hamilton.
And joining me today is a panel of McMaster
representatives.
We have individuals from McMaster's Student Union,
off-campus students, Student Success Center
and residence life.
We've got quite the panel.
To kick things off, let's talk benefits of orientation
programming.
Obviously tons of reasons to attend.
But if you had to pick one main reason to attend
orientation and just what students can take away from
it, what would it be and why?
Anna, why don't you start off?
I think orientation week is such a diverse
opportunity for students.
And there's so many connections to be made that
you can really just come to McMaster, find out what you're
interested in, put your best foot forward and just
give it your all.
And see what you can make of your Welcome Week, because we
have so many people here to help you with that transition
and give you the support that you need to be a successful
McMaster student.
I think one of the best advantages is that for most
for part, everyone's in the same boat.
So, everyone's starting a fresh new page, a new foot
forward and you're all in the same kind
of experience together.
And there's people that we work with everyday that's
helping you through that experience for the first time.
So you're going to love it.
It's awesome.
And that's right, because you are in the same boat.
I mean, no one's done this before.
Everyone's in the exact same position, right?
And the great thing to is that there's so much diversity and
things you can do during Welcome Week that everyone
will find something that they can connect with and people
who are like minded to make those connections with.
Yeah.
Jen, what do you say?
What's the one main reason for attending
orientation for a week?
I want to credit SOCS.
SOCS stands for the Society of Off-campus Students.
And SOCS runs and organizes all the events during welcome
week for off-campus students.
So I just think it's really important for that single
person out there who doesn't know a single soul on the
McMaster campus to know that there is
something there for you.
And people are there for you, waiting to meet you and help
you along the way.
So don't be afraid of just taking that first step to come
on to the campus.
And then every other fear will just melt away, I think, once
you're there.
Great.
Rachel, Hooria, what do you guys think, one main reason
for attending?
Well, I think meeting new friends is a great point, but
I don't think it necessarily has to happen
in that first week.
Because I know when I got here, my parents pretty much
dropped me off and kept driving across Canada.
See ya.
So it literally was like, OK, thanks.
Really, feeling safe and secure on campus was my
priority and I knew that making friends
could happen later.
So I don't think people should feel discouraged leaving
Welcome Week if they haven't made that meaningful
connection.
Because we do have so many great events, but it's not
necessarily like sit down, and talk to one another.
It could be at a concert, they might say hi.
But maybe they're not going to be your best friend for the
next 20 years.
So I wouldn't feel discouraged if you don't
do that right away.
I think safety and security would be my top.
I would completely agree with Rachel, actually.
Because being in residence you are coming into a new
neighborhood and almost a community, because you live
with different people who are almost all strangers to you.
And it can get a bit daunting and uncomfortable with people
you've never lived with before.
So just even coming out, if you're stepping out of your
door for the first time, and just meeting a few people.
You don't have to become best friends with them but just
knowing that familiar face when you see them the next
time on campus or during Welcome Week helps a lot, and
you feel more at home and more comfortable and confident in
approaching other [INAUDIBLE].
That's the thing-- you are never really alone.
There's always people to help you.
Someone to ask a question or someone else who's in the same
boat as you, as you said.
It's never just you.
And there's no dumb questions, too.
No, for sure, exactly-- that's right, even like the acronyms
for things, or where's my res?
Where's my class?
Where's my class?
It happens all the time.
Awesome.
Well, you were a fantastic panel.
Thanks so much for joining me today.
And thanks for tuning in to The O Show, everything you
need to know about orientation at McMaster.