With exuberance and passion, University of Rhode Island orientation leaders pass down knowledge to the next generation on Welcome Day and beyond.
As students are slowly admitted and committing to schools all around the country, URI began its string of Welcome Days for students and families. The first took place on March 28 and the second took place on Saturday.
From 9 to 10 a.m., students and families hear from administrators and current students in a Welcome to URI presentation. Following from 10:30 until 3 p.m. are different academic and student life programs that give students a feel of what it is like to attend URI.
The second portion of Welcome Day is run by orientation leaders. With these students at the helm, it offers an opportunity for prospective students to see the different avenues they have at URI. Becoming a part of this team has provided career insight, according second-year Jay Prestegui.
“My favorite part of being an orientation leader has been finding an actual interest in what I want to become in the future,” Prestegui said. “I am currently majoring in landscape architecture, but I am going through the transition of minoring in that and instead actually going into communications studies. That all came through the experience I have gotten as an orientation leader.”
This year, Welcome Day includes many different student-ran panels. One of those panels is called Find Your Fit, a panel to show prospective students that URI is a welcoming place, according to Prestegui.
“It is a panel where you actually get to talk to student ambassadors and see if you find someone that relates to you,” Prestegui said. “For example, I am a person of color. I am part of the talent development program. I am a first generation scholar. I know that I am representing many folks that might not think that there is someone there for them. I am there to support them in case they have any questions.”
Orientation leaders have become known for their high energy and charisma. The energy comes from the support of each other, according to Prestegui.
“I think the best way that we keep the energy up is by supporting one another,” Prestegui said. “If it wasn’t because we are actually in some way a family, the team wouldn’t be so hyped.”
The energy also comes from a good outlook, according to Bucci.
“I think we keep the energy up because I feel as though we have a positive outlook on many things,” Bucci said. “Even if there’s students that are there and they have low energy or they’re not really feeling any of the activities, we’ll always be able to navigate that in a way that’s comfortable for them.”
As an orientation leader for two years, there have been learning curves, according to Prestegui. Despite the learning curves, the orientation leaders are an active voice for the next generation of URI students.
“Passing down my knowledge to the next generation means allowing students to be themselves,” Prestegui said. “It means helping them and pushing them to be themselves so that the next generation is comfortable.”
Becoming an orientation leader has helped first-year Layla Bucci get comfortable on campus.
“My favorite part has been working with the team I’m with now,” Bucci said. “They’re all amazing students and they’re probably going to be my lifelong friends now. I probably never would have had this opportunity if I didn’t get involved.”
Orientation leaders have become known for their high energy and charisma. The energy comes from the support of each other, according to Prestegui.
“I think the best way that we keep the energy up is by supporting one another,” Prestegui said. “If it wasn’t because we are actually in some way a family, the team wouldn’t be so hyped.”
The energy also comes from a good outlook, according to Bucci.
“I think we keep the energy up because I feel as though we have a positive outlook on many things,” Bucci said. “Even if there’s students that are there and they have low energy or they’re not really feeling any of the activities, we’ll always be able to navigate that in a way that’s comfortable for them.”
One final Welcome Day is in store, taking place on Sunday. Registration for the event is available on the university website.
