Orientation at UCD

My First Day:

Picture yourself in this situation, you've arrived on campus very early in the morning, you’re standing in your apartment having unpacked, none of your room mates have arrived, the only person you know from school has decided he wants to set up his computer something…. What would you do? In desperate need of adventure I set out; overwhelmed at the time it was probably one of the best decisions I ever made.  I’ve never really reflected on how happy I am with that decision.

Even if it’s hard, throw yourself out there; there’s never a better time than Orientation week - It’s a week when only first years are roaming campus - everyone is in the same boat.

[UCD Ambassadors at 2010 Open Day] 

There's a huge range of support services available for First Years at UCD - Peer Mentors, the Students Union and the Orientation Guides are all examples. UCD places a strong emphasis on the First Year Experience acknowledging the vast differences in second level and third level education. 

When I finally got to the Student Centre I decided taking a tour of campus. It was a great way of actually talking to people. For me it really helped me get involved. Our Orientation Guide encouraged we talk to each other and afterwards I no longer felt like I knew no one. Not only did we see the majority of buildings we also got to mess around on the Climbing Wall, rowing machines and trampolines whilst in the Sports Centre. 

It’s a whole lot easier to go anywhere when you know at least one person there; well this was the case for me. So by meeting Rachel and Daryl on that tour I found it a whole lot easier to head down to the pit for a barbecue that week. The pit was a large outdoor area that used to exist outside the Student Centre before the construction of the New Student Centre. I met some people that day that I am still friends with today. A group of us even started meeting up on a regular basis.

I was even to help train Orientation Guides this year just as a way of saying thanks to the program that started off my University experience so well.

For me, I am truly thankful for the Orientation Program.