No dreamer is ever too small; no dream is ever too big.

Don’t be pushed by your problems; be led by your dreams.

Just when you think that all your hard work and preparation to get into a college is over, you receive your acceptance letter and embark on a whole new journey called COLLEGE! Now the feeling of mixed emotions runs through your body to fuel your life towards your future endeavors. The college experience, one of the most memorable yet terrifying things of your life has just begun and you are anxiously waiting to find your niche. As a first year student, entering into this new realm of freedom can be the tipping point of finding yourself and your purpose in life. You have the powers in your hand to take control of your future and jump into new opportunities!

College is different and a BIG change! But, change isn’t always a bad thing. The transition to college can be sometimes made out to be scarier than what it really is. With New Student Orientation, we provide the students with a tool to bridge the gap from high school to college. With this transition, multiple concerns from new students arise. Most of the time students are emotionally conflicted with who they are and what they can contribute to their new community. Other issues range from washing your own you clothes, knowing how to navigate through campus, being away from home, adjusting to the classes and etc. Take a look at this diagram that can be easily used to sum up college life! 

These challenges are REAL issues that are addressed by awesome Orientation Leaders (Hence, Rutgers Orientation Leaders of summer 2012)! Eliminating the struggles that students face is crucial to their growth. By recognizing an important frequent theme that majority students face, we can try to guide them in the right direction.

After watching different movies and TV shows about college campus based movies, I realized a reoccurring theme. Many new students are concerned about their social status. It is important to drive home the message that YOU are who YOU are for a reason. You SHOULD find your PASSIONS and commit to what YOU want to do!

“Rudy” a movie based on the power of determination and one boy’s dream to play football for Norte Dame is a good example of the character first year students should obtain. After all his trials and tribulations, Rudy continued not being placed on the line up for Norte Dame.  But, that did not stop him! Rudy was always told that he was too small to play college football! To proof them all wrong he continuously practiced, worked harder, and learned more.

Many new students come to college without a clue! Some students come in with an idea that they might pursue. Few students actually come in with a plan and stick to it! That’s why the key to success lies in your determination! One of the biggest struggles that students have is picking a major or interest. If we are able to equip the students with the right resources to learn more about them that can lead them closer to their goal. However, finding their inner drive is harder than just giving them resources. We need to find that WINNER in them THAT JUST WON’T QUIT. College is a fragile stage in student’s lives! People are constantly competing to excel and ultimately make that next transition from student to professional. People are always going to tell you that you can’t do it! There will be BRICK WALLS that get in your way but, you will have to OVERCOME them because YOU CAN overcome them.

In the television show, GREEK, the characters in this story are pressured into joining different Greek organizations. Even though the roommate of a Brother isn't interested in going to a rush event, he is pressured into attending. An additional struggle that students face is being able to identify with who they want to be. Self awareness is important so that you don’t get trapped into a place that you don’t want to be.

Embracing who you are and going after your dreams is what will get you to happiness and success.

 In the movie Legally Blonde, Elle Woods, the president of her sorority, is often profiled as someone who cannot achieve something like attending Law School. Elle uses her distinctive individual style too ultimately land admission into Harvard Law. BE WHO YOU ARE! Explore the million opportunities available!  

NOTE the most important message to take away:

NO MATTER WHERE YOU ARE, BE WHO YOU ARE, AND GO WITH YOUR HEART!