Welcome everyone to the new school year! I am sure that it has been a busy few weeks for everyone, and I hope that everyone has been able to adjust back into the school-year mindset. I would like to extend a particularly warm welcome to all of the first years, who are working on their third week of university. I hope that you have all had a great experience so far, and that Orientation Week helped ease you into your awesome but somewhat frightening new home.
I was a Big this O-week, and it was probably one of the best experiences of my university career so far. Sure the weather was bad; we got rained out on both Tuesday and Thursday, meaning that the Hardhat Ceremony was done on a team-by-team basis and we missed the crowd-favourite EDCOM Smash. But thanks to the hard work of all the leaders, organizers, and frosh it was still an epic spirit-building week. A particular thanks must be given to the EngFOC who, after planning O-week all year, rolled right around every twist and turn. They rushed to make some very fun low-key events for Friday evening after the main attractions were cancelled, and even managed to rescue SCUNT in the form of a one-hour “miniSCUNT” on Saturday afternoon.
O-week is a special week that only happens once per year. Even the most menial of tasks become fun and entertaining. For instance, stuffing Orientation Bags. Get two lines of people, one holding holding bags and walking slowly, the other placing objects into the bags. It should be a dull, tiresome, and even excruciating activity. But if you add some music, then the magic of O-week turns bag-stuffing from a laborious task into some sort of weird and exciting extreme speed-dating. Meet someone for five seconds, and then continue the conversation four minutes later when they zip around again. Or if that is not your style, just start a competition with those around you to see who can do the most skillful bag-stuff slam-dunk.
Perhaps the thing I loved most about O-week was that, when I wore my leader shirt, everyone and anyone would come up to me for help. It was fulfilling to be able to help one, two, or even a half dozen people in a walk across campus. I didn’t always have the answers, and more often than not I just directed them to the Turnkey Desk or another, more competent leader. But the questions I could answer made me feel great that I was having a positive effect on someone’s life.
On the rest of this page you’ll read some more awesome stories from O-week. In particular, we have some pieces from first years (Horay! It’s always exciting to get new writers.) on their experiences, who’s opinions are probably more important and interesting than mine given the nature of the week. So step on in, and consider volunteering to help out next year. Take it from me, it will be well worth your time to do so.
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