Most students participate in one Orientation week. Maybe two if they volunteer as a leader. But for Brittany Caines, one or two just wasn’t enough. This year she’ll be volunteering for the fourth time during Orientation.
Orientation at Waterloo wouldn’t be possible without the dedication of upper-year students like Brittany. The week-long event is supported by over 1,000 student volunteers who all have one thing in common: they want to welcome and support the incoming class.
I loved Orientation from the second my roommate and I stepped out onto St. Paul’s green in our orange shirts and starting creating cheers in first year. From that moment, we decided to jump in completely and participate in every event.
Brittany fondly remembers her first-year experience, bonding with many like-minded people, both from her faculty as well as upper-year leaders. It was these interactions that sparked her initial desire to get involved.
It wasn’t long until Brittany was fully invested in creating the best possible experience for new first-year students. During her second year Brittany took on the role of front-line Orientation Leader. In third year, she took on the role of Event Coordinator, all while keeping her end goal in mind – securing a position on the Fall 2014 Federation Orientation Committee.
Today, Brittany holds the Orientation Programs Assistant position with the Federation of Students and loves every minute of it. From helping first-year students meet one another to making new friends herself, Brittany speaks of her many Orientation experiences with a wide smile.
For those a little anxious about the upcoming Orientation week, Brittany leaves some words of wisdom.
Try to attend as many events as possible! Orientation is an opportunity for you to meet your new classmates and upper-year students who can share their experiences. It’s a busy week, so make sure you get some sleep to keep your energy levels up for all of the events.
If you’re looking to follow in Brittany’s footsteps and get involved with Orientation in 2016, stay tuned – leader applications will be available online later this fall.
