Orientation: Opportunity to Foster Connections or an Additional Source of Stress?

Explore the positives and negatives of Orientation experience for new students.

Photo by Leighton Glass

Every fall, the circle welcomes new and old faces as students from all around the world gather and meet in the Middlesex community. New students, in particular, face the intimidating task of branching out and forming connections during the Orientation. While Orientation mitigates new students’ anxiety and disseminates Middlesex spirits, there are multiple aspects that need improvement. 

The first day of Orientation, especially, bridges new students with the community. From the start, the warm welcomes of the Ask-Me Kids in their bright neon swag immediately ease students’ fear of transitioning into a new school. “The Ask-Me Kids were great!” said Haewon Kim ’28. “When I first drove onto campus,” added Emma McMullin ’28, “I saw all of these students waving at me which made me feel really welcomed.” Indeed, Ask-Me Kids minimizes new students’ sense of disconnection by offering a platform to interact with returning students. Members of the senior class carry the responsibility of setting the tone for the entire school year and are often role models new students look up to.

In addition, Orientation manifests the kind and harmonious nature of the Middlesex community. For example, “The Rager,” where seniors pulled all the new students together in Stu-Fac and started dancing to music, demonstrated the warmth and inclusivity.“I thought the rager was cool because it showed a lot of school spirit,” commented a group of boys. Finally, the chapel presents an opportunity to unwind and relax after a busy day. The calming environment gives students a true sense of belonging. Indeed, the voice of Hymn 110 ringing in their years and the sight of everyone singing in unison imbue new students with an excitement to join the community. 

Despite the many successes of Orientation, there are minor aspects that need improvement. Notably, the all-school barbecue receives mixed feedback from the new students. Students find it stressful because they had a hard time finding a group to sit with. In addition, the packed schedule of the Orientation activities adds invisible stress to new students. “Everything was squeezed into these two days,” reported a student, “I had no down time at all and sometimes it felt like I couldn’t breathe.” The experience can be significantly improved for new students by extending the timespan of orientation, even adding just one extra day so students can get a breather in between activities. 

We have all been through the first day of school, and it only takes a small act of kindness from us to make the day for a new student who is still finding their place in the community. As a school, I believe we should strive to be more proactive, whether that be helping a new student find their way to class, or inviting someone to join your friends during lunch. 

All in all, Orientation helps new students to grasp a better sense of the vibrant and diverse community Middlesex is as they steadily fill in gaps on the circle and become valued members of the Middlesex community.

Celine Ding