Post 1787 August Orientation

Garber Garbarians!

It is over, 1787 August Orientation is over.

I came home yesterday with so much free time that I could not focus because I didn't know what to do with myself! I had 8 hours of sleep, I ate dinner at a normal time, and I was able to actually wear normal clothes besides khakis and a yellow tshirt that I, unfortunately, never had the chance to wash during all of August Orientation (oops... I promise I didn't smell too horribly!) The past week has left me with feelings of ambition, excitement, gratitude and a new found love for JMU as well as the people and experiences I have made/encountered during my time here. The past week, I've woken up at 6am only to go to bed while the sun was beginning to rise and to repeat these events for 7 days. Crazy thing is, I'd do it again in a heartbeat. 

left to right: Wells, Hannah, Julie and Riley

The week started off with helping another FrOG group move in their first years. It made us a little sad to watch as other FrOGs were able to spend an extra day with their group as we patiently waited for our own first years to arrive. Helping first years move in was a completely different experience. The organization and enthusiasm that all of the FrOGs exuded was contagious! It was a wonderful feeling watching as parents' faces were calmed after they saw how helpful our orientation staff was. The excitement from everyone part of the O-Team fueled me the first day as well as the rest of the week. It is definitely true that you feed off of other people's moods, and being able to feed off of the energy that the Garber FrOGs had, kept me going long after I was delirious from lack of sleep or even discouraged/anxious. 

The first day of August Orientation, a few of us decided to take a stroll through campus and appreciate the beautiful area that we all call home. We walked up the steps of the ISAT building and overlooked Interstate 81 and the rest of our amazing campus. It was one of those moments that made me feel small, yet somehow reminded me of how significant a person is. It is a strange and big concept to think about all of the experiences and people that have led you to this exact moment in time; where ever you may be reading this, everything that you have or have not done in your life or has or has not happened to you lead you to this place right here. That concept is beautiful to me! The Garber FrOG group was thrown together, with so many different personalities and stories, yet we all taught each other so much through out the entire week. They are an inspiration to my life! 

But moving on, I want to talk about my Garber Garbarians! I know, I will definitely sound motherly writing about them but I cannot help it! Towards the end of the week, they all became my babies (: I'm only three years older than all of them, but being a senior in college and seeing all of the angst and potential they have for the next four years of their lives makes me so excited and hopeful for them! Zach and I were blessed with a group of 34 males as our August Orientation group. Yes, 34 males, and I was the only female. I was extremely nervous to be working with only fellers because although I do have mostly male friends, I wasn't sure how I would be able to connect with them on a more personal or emotional level or if they would even want to connect with me in that sense! It built up my angst but Zach continued to calm me and reassure me that I would be great. (Thank you, Zach, you helped me feel 10x better about anything I was doing!)

If you saw the first picture in this post, those are my fellas (: The picture above is most of them minus four. It's hard to get a group of 34 guys to all show up to events, but most of them always came and they were all 5-10 minutes early! Surprising, right? Towards the end of the week, most of them started calling me "mom" which made me a bit apprehensive, but in the end, I think that's kindof the way I acted. I cared about their safety and well being much more than my own and only wanted to make sure that they all took advantage of the opportunities and adventures that JMU has to offer. Looking back at it, being a senior and watching first years adjust, I wanted to spew so much knowledge and advice that I knew they would never understand until they experienced it for themselves (which is hard because I only want great things for my first years and never anything negative). 

I hope they all know that I want to be their for them through out their entire time here at JMU, even though I will be physically leaving the campus this May (yikes! that sounds scary to actually say). I tried to get to know as much of them as possible, it's definitely really hard with 34 of them, but I tried to make rounds and talk to everyone individually or in pairs. I hope they realize and know that I am always there for them for anything. Could I have done more? Or gotten to know more of them? A week is not enough time! Saying goodbye to my first years yesterday was so difficult. They do not know the impact they've made on my life, by just attending JMU and by sheer luck that they were placed in my orientation group. I told you, I'm a big believer of fate and this was definitely fate that each and every one of them was placed together and placed in this group. They are the most amazing group of individuals, with so much potential for excellence... I hope they realize that they have left a lasting impression on me. I am so lucky to have worked with them. My babies... haha I'm really like a mom... 

Below are a few pictures of some of them (: I tried to get pictures with all of them, but it's so hard! They're some good looking fellas who will definitely make people swoon muhaha

Medium John (aka Papa John) 

Jake! (: He's the cutest

Jigme (: 

Matt & Little John (they're probably the two I wanted to keep in my pocket because they were so cute)

Nick and Jigme (my first years are legit studs)

Having a group of all guys was definitely a different experience. In the beginning, I wanted a coed group, so that I could work with girls and guys... but everything happens for a reason, right? With a group of all guys, I was able to hang out and relax and just be a bro. They made my job easy because they all opened up to me (slowly, but surely) and gave me dating advice! Hahaha, a bunch of first years giving their senior FrOG dating tips and what qualities to look for in a guy because they told me the good ones need the best guy. They're too precious! Plus, watching all the single and straight ladies stare down my group was too hysterical! They eyed my fellas anywhere we walked, which is everywhere... hahaha! Anyways, they even trusted me enough to ask me to be their wing woman and try to help them talk to ladies even though they all don't need my help! Can you tell I love each of them? What makes me so sad, however, is that I won't be there for the next three years to watch them grow to become wonderful men. I really hope they do decide to keep in touch with me through out their time here at JMU. I'm going to be trying my best to always keep in touch with them. 

This past week has taught me so much about myself. I've been inspired by the 12 members in my group, influenced and encouraged by them, and have grown to love each and every one of them. With my FrOG group, I've learned to accept people more openly, to never make judgements, and they've helped me find my own passion in helping others and being a nurturing and caring person to everyone you meet. This has been one of the most fulfilling experiences I've had the privilege in being a part of here at JMU. In a short week, my love for the school as well as the people here has grown immensely. The last activity that our FrOG group participated in was throwing a piece of yarn around in a circle that made a web, connecting all of us together. As we threw the ball of yarn to another person in our group, we had to tell them things that we had admired in them through this week and talk about their strengths as an individual. After speaking, we said "Dumale". Dumale is a greeting in an African language that means "I affirm you, I believe in you, and I see great potential in you". This activity made me cry! I love the word and everything that it symbolizes. It is the perfect ending to an amazing and unforgettable week/experience. 

Below are a few more pictures from the rest of the week (: If anyone is interested in becoming a FrOG, please do! It is such a rewarding and inspiring experience that will open your mind to new people and new experiences. If you let it, it will change your perspective on so many different things as well as make you a better person (:

playfair at UREC

Siobhan! my loveee!

*Wells*

Kelli - the singing sensation

Papa John serenading a few of us (:

bahaha - Logan (: he's a sweetheart

Riley (: one of the funniest people

left to right: Jigme, Brad (the RA) and Alexis (the other RA)

Kelli, Siobhan and I on top of the ISAT stairs

me & my mans, JMaddy

I am forever thankful and grateful to have experienced an amazing week and to have gone through this journey of self discovery with a group of people who are extremely supportive, open and encouraging. They've become my best friends, and it was the best way to start my last year here at JMU! (:

Dumale

"I affirm you, I believe in you, and I see great potential in you"

G-G-G-Garberrrrr!

left to right: (top) Julie, Siobhan, Rebecca, Ashley, Javay, Zach, Kelli, Bodie
(bottom) Hannah, Riley, Kelsey, Wells, myself

For the past three days, I've had 4 hours of sleep each night, woken up before there was light, and participated in endless icebreakers and awkward situations for 1787 August Orientation for first year students. Despite the long hours of training (only training! we haven't even gotten to the real thing!), I've met a group of 12 individuals who all have very different personalities, characteristics and beliefs... yet they all have inspired me more than I have ever been inspired at JMU. That may sound exaggerated, but it really isn't! The 12 people pictured above are my 1787 August Orientation FrOG group with our residence hall, Garber! 

It's funny the way the world works, if you really think about it. Garber was my first year residence hall and being able to come back after four years and acting as a FrOG to the first year students is really a different feeling. Now this is the part where I get a bit sentimental and emotional (disclaimer!). I've created so many memories and different long term friendships in this dorm that I am so excited to encourage my first years to do the same. I'm hoping that all of my first years will be able to build and create relationships and I'm hoping that I can be there for them and encourage them to do so. It really makes me nostalgic walking through Garber and seeing the suites and dorms, where I once was three years ago. The feeling of pure excitement, anxiety and the nauseating feeling of nervousness washes over me every time we talk about first years and creating an unforgettable experience for them.

The four seniors from our FrOG group! Pictured from left to right: myself, Hannah, Julie and our OPA (Orientation Peer Advisor) Kelsey! I can't speak for them and say we're all feeling an overwhelming feeling of bittersweet excitement, but probably a similar one!  I am excited to be a senior and to have the opportunity to pass on all of my knowledge and wisdom I've gained over the past three years attending JMU. My advice for the first years? 

Don't take it for granted. Especially 1787 August Orientation Week, really take advantage of all the activities, opportunities, and lessons that this week is giving you. This only happens ONCE during your time at JMU! That also goes for the rest of your time here, JMU offers you so many activities, opportunities and lessons that are readily available for you. Take advantage of it now because it is so easy! 

As Hannah said today during discussion, "... Don't take yourself too seriously." I think this piece of advice rings true to most situations in life, but especially your first year! Trust me, you are not too cool for all of these activities. They were specifically planned and designed for first year students at JMU which mean they must have some sort of importance! But enough advice and onto other matters of business (: 

The above two pictures feature my FrOG partner, Zach! So, if you're reading this and it gets a bit emotional, I'm sorry! I'll keep it brief (: I didn't know my partner beforehand and he is two years younger than me, but I think we work really well together. Although we do have a lot of differences, his own personality and characteristics really balance out my own. Working with Zach for the past three days has really inspired and motivated me to help make this a great experience for our first years. I mean, we do have 34 male Garbarians we're responsible for! He has taught me a lot of different perspectives that I didn't even consider beforehand as well as helped me feel a bit calmer about the upcoming schedule. I tend to be a bit of a "worry wart", thanks to my mom, but having Zach as a partner really helped me calm down a bit and worry a little less. The other night he told me that we can "play it by ear" which made me even more anxious, but I do have trust and faith in our partnership that he won't leave me hanging (oh gosh, i hope he doesn't) and he'll be there to back me up if need be. (: I hope that we continue to keep in touch through out the year and get to know each other more. He is definitely an interesting fellow, and someone I'd really enjoy getting to know more. (Hi Zach! if you're reading this...)

If you're reading this, I have to tell you that we actually haven't gotten our first years yet. Technically, today was only the official last day of training and our first years will be arriving at Garber on Wednesday! How am I already sentimental? Who knows. The Garber FrOGs and my OPA have helped me experience a different part of JMU that I didn't even know existed. Does that even make sense?! The 12 people above have somehow become my best friends, in one way or another they know more about me than i've told people whom i considered to be my closest friends. Their openness, vulnerability and enthusiasm have given me so much pride to be able to call myself a Garber FrOG with them.

"... And you be Shakira, be be Shakira...!!"