Dance-offs, spirit contests and interactive games are part of students' first impression of Southeastern during summer orientation.
Orientation is the first time many students come to campus to find out what Southeastern has to offer, tour the campus and schedule their classes.
Orientation leaders take advantage of having all these new students in one place and attempt to instill Southeastern pride, educate them about the campus and prepare them for success within a matter of a few days.
A lot of work is done behind the scenes to make the orientation programs a success; leaders receive gratification in helping recruit students to attend the university and ease their anxiety toward college life.
"This has been the greatest experience since I have been in college. I love the feeling when I inspire someone to attend our university," said current orientation leader Donovan Thierry. "I also like when incoming students no longer fear coming to college after they have a good conversation with me."
Deanna Robertson, a 2012 orientation leader, shares the elements which made her experience worthwhile.
"My experience was incredible as an orientation leader. It was challenging, and it was a lot of hard work. The reward of seeing students excited about attending college and being a Southeastern Lion made it worth it," said Robertson. "The team took some time to get along, but in the end we knew who and what orientation is for: the incoming students. They are the most important, so we learned how to work together and make orientation something memorable."
Robertson's desires blossomed prior to the start of her collegiate career.
"I chose to be an orientation leader because my sister was one in 2007 and she made the experience sound very fun. Also my orientation leaders saw that I was really engaged in the program, and they encouraged me to apply," said Robertson. "Even though I was a freshman, I knew it would be an experience I would not forget so I went ahead and applied."
Those interested in becoming orientation leaders have to go through an interview process in the fall. Once selected, they are trained for their duties through a class in the spring semester. Orientation leaders are required to live on campus in the summer while they lead each program.
"I would tell someone who's interested in being an OL that they should do it because you make friendships with all kinds of people," said Lauren Davis, a current orientation leader. "Also, it's an amazing experience because you will recognize strengths that you never knew you had."
Each year the orientation experience is different because each leader is responsible for leading their group and making their students' experiences enjoyable.
"The different people coming in can change a lot throughout the different programs," said Thierry. "Not knowing what to expect when they walk through the door [is difficult], but we know that as orientation leaders we need to lead them to success by reaching out to them in different ways."
Davis feels the current orientation will be better and more unique than those of previous years.
"I think this year's orientation is going to be different because we have learned to work together as a team, and we truly want each individual that comes through our program to not have a doubt in their mind that Southeastern is the university for them," said Davis.