Different State and School, similar Concerns.

Coming to college is an interesting experience. I am not sure about the rest of you, but my high school did not have 35,000 people in it, so there was definitely a shock in pure size alone. To better understand, I decided to ask my cousin, Natalie for some of her fears, excitements, or other comments about going to college this fall. A little background for this story, Natalie is from Georgia, went to Marist School, and is planning on attending University of Michigan this fall.

Natalie is on the left, in case of any confusion

Q: What is one of your concerns about going to college?
A: One thing that is really going to challenge me is the location. Michigan is pretty far away from Georgia, and after living at home for 18 years college is going to be a challenge. Figure that and the fact that Michigan is a huge campus with tens of thousands of people, it is much different than a high school environment.


One thing that was itneresting that we as NSO representatives should be aware of is the fact that while most of Rutgers Students are from New Jersey, some aren't. Going to a different state for college can add to the stress. Not only are you in a different environment, but you are also in a different state. You cant get home in an hour or so, it may require a plane ride or a 6 hour bus ride, so it is even more important to make out of state students feel comfortable at Rutgers.

Q: Give me a reason why you are excited to go to school?
A: Going to college is going to give me a lot of new opportunities to take advantage of. While going to a large college can pose problems, at the same time there are so many people to meet and so many opportunities that weren't available in high school.


Large colleges give great opportunities. There are tens of thousands of students here, as well as, lots of faculty, and we should stress the chances that come with going to such a large school.

Q: Any other fears that you have about going to Michigan? Besides the fact that your dad is going to disown you for not going to Georgia Tech?
A: Haha, well I don't think he is going to disown me but I guess there is a sense of feeling lost or not fitting in. Michigan is a huge school and not fitting in is something that does concern me. 


Not fitting in is something that concerns everyone, especially those who go to large universities. Positive reinforcement will go a long way  towards quelling some anxiety about going to a large school.

I couldn't help thinking about the similar situation that I found myself in going to college, with the exception of being out of state. I think that a lot of what Natalie said, first year students coming to Rutgers in the fall, will be feeling as well. There is obviously a fear of no longer being a fish in a small pond, but as OLs, OTLs, PCs, Pro Staff, etc, we can help new students with their fears and help them focus on their excitements about coming to school. One thing that is hard to put into text is the passion that was in my cousin's voice about going to Michigan. It seemed as if she was in love with the school that she had visited twice. Students may not be 100% sold on Rutgers, but if they see our passion over the summer as a collective group, the passion will thrive in them as well.

An Incoming First Year's First Fears

I have been in close contact with my High School friend Jami who is currently a graduating senior at Roselle Catholic HS. She has given me the privilege of being her mentor in her college acceptance and decision-making process. We have been in very close contact and I was excited to hear that she has decided to come to Rutgers for the upcoming fall semester. Given her enthusiasm about college and the many conversations we have had, I decided that she would be great to interview about some of the many things that excite and startle her about becoming a first-year college student.






Here are some excerpts from our conversation:

Q: What made you decide to attend Rutgers?

A: Well, Rutgers is close to home, although not too close, and I really like the feeling that I got from Rutgers during the times that I have visited the campus. 

Q: Do you have any fears about coming to a large university like Rutgers?

A: Actually I do, coming from a private school, I have never had a large amount of kids in my school or classes. I don't know how easy it will be for me to get used to the large environment at Rutgers and I hope I will be able to meet people easily.

Q: Do you think you will be able to handle the responsibility that comes with the new independence you will gain in college?

A: I am kind of nervous about the independence. My parents won't be there to tell me to do my homework on time or to make sure I get a good night's rest. Hopefully I can learn to manage my time and work well enough to have a good freshman year.

We continued to talk about some of the things that have her both enthusiastic and nervous about college. It seemed that her biggest fear was Rutgers' reputation as a large school. I assuaged some of her anxieties by explaining that although Rutgers is a big school (campus & population), it provides a small environment that makes it comfortable to each of its students. One thing I stressed was involvement in the university on many aspects such as, an on-campus job, volunteer work, academic and social clubs, sports, and other day-today activities that she may encounter. Soon, she was convinced that involvement is the key to enjoying your experience, not only at Rutgers or college, but in any aspect of life.  

The Playlist to my Freshmen Year

Can I be real for just a second. I'm reflecting on this past year, and I honestly don't know what happened and how it flew by within a glance. So now I am thinking of the opportunities taken and those missed, the resources that I evaded and the one's I used the most. I walked into the Rutgers' community intimidated, I knew there would be no more handholding and it wasn't like I was looking for a handout but just a little support. And now that the end is here, I am trying to remember all the things I did and the only way I can, is by incorporating something that has always been near and dear to me, my music. So I kind of just want to go through the Rutgers experience in terms of my music, the soundtrack to my freshmen year life... THUG LIFE!

Ok, so I am no Tupac and I did not lead a thug life. If anything I grew up in a suburban neighborhood and was afforded many opportunities. But the reason why I chose this song was because Tupac is pretty much thanking his mom. I knew that this new leg in the journey to my future would not be possible without the love and support of my mother. Since day one she has always been by my side, and has been a useful tool when it came to my Rutgers experience because she is an alum. I think that in college you will do whatever possible to really start becoming an independent adult, but in the end some battles cannot be won alone and you need your parents. I can honestly say that a lot of the mistakes that I learned from this year could have been avoided if I just listened to my mother, but it's life and I learned a lot from taking he occasional fall. In the end, I do appreciate my mom because without her, I doubt I would be as motivated and level headed as I am in college.

This song is the most accurate portrayal of my class selection process. In true fashion to my freestyle life, when I went about picking classes for this past year I was all over the place. Without focusing on the core requirements I had to meet and what degrees I wished to pursue, I went into webreg like a child on Christmas and opened up presents that really held no significance in the long term. Fortunately, I still managed to meet some requirements but I honestly do wish I had sough more help. After having an academic advisor meet us in one of the NSO classes I realized that not everything is as easy as it seems, and that in order to get things done you do need help. For any of you who may still not know, there are four places where one can seek academic advising and they are: College Ave Milledoler Hall, Douglas Campus College Hall, Livingston Campus Lucy Stone Hall, and Busch Campus Busch Campus Center.

Let's be honest, I am no longer a spend thrift because college is expensive. In high school I held down one job and made a very high salary compared to my peers, but in college to maintain the life I had become accustomed to, I picked up a second job and still found it hard to do what I wanted. That's when I learned that it was no longer about me, but about how to focus on what I needed and not on what I wanted. This is also when I became one with the love of my life, financial aid. Yes, our relationship is more giving on my part than taking but what we have will last a lifetime well at least a couple of years. The financial aid process is grueling to say the least, from all the countless things one must fill out to the little aid that I receive, I found that working was now necessary in order to help further my education. But when you have questions on the financial aid process never hesitate to ask: Office of Financial Aid 620 George street

I will only speak briefly on this, but relationships in college are strenuous. I learned a lot from them and I have now decided that for now at least, I would rather focus on my education. In the beginning of the semester I was more focused on building and fixing a relationship than on my actual studies and for that I suffered. But in the end, it was well worth the test.

In conclusion, this has been an interesting year full of growth, headaches, a little heart break, and a lot of learning. But in the end I can't say that I would trade this experience, or change colleges for a chance to re-do it. I now know what I plan for my majors and minors to be thanks to the help of upperclassmen who because mentors and professors who led me in a great direction. I know how I plan to attack next year, and this summer will only add to my ever growing list of achievements and lessons.

Transitions: High School to College

For this week's blog post, I paid a visit to my alma mater to discuss the transition from high school to college with Rachel, Charlie, Richard, & Bobby, 4 graduating seniors.  As these 4 students are all friends with my brother, I have had countless conversations with them about college and their future.  However, when I was first presented witht his assignment, it reminded me of the "R- Full Value Contracts" the Orientation Leaders used during Team Meeting 1 as an ice breaker this past summer.  This activity asked students about their hopes and fears about coming to RU.  So, for these interviews, I followed the same theme, asking students the following questions: 

1. What are you most excited about as you head to college?

2. What are you most afraid about as you head to college?

3. What do you think will help ease the transition for you?

Their answers to these questions can be seen in the following video that I put together.

Being an Orientation Leader gives students the opportunity to be involved in all the aspects first-year students are most excited for when coming to college.  For example, OLs help first-years pick their classes on Academic Planning and Advising days.  Many of us become so jaded from choosing our own classes, we forget how exciting (and confusing) it may be to an incoming student.  Making new friends and building a community is the main goal for many students.  Coming to a new place for the first time with all new people can be scary.  Being a friendly face and helping students interact and form friendships should be a main goal of every staff member.  Lastly, students are excited about learning new things and embracing diversity, of cultures and ideas.  This is facilitated by an OL through creating an open, inclusive environment where everyone feels comfortable and can share.  


Coming to college, especially at Rutgers, comes with many unique challenges and fears.  At Orientation, it is important to calm students fears and show them that college at RU is manageable.  For example, if a student is fearful of getting lost, be sure to show your student helpful ways of getting around campus while on your tour (like maps or asking someone for help!)  If students are stressed about the work load of college, teaching them about resources such as Rutgers Learning Centers and libraries is helpful.  Lastly, students can't take advantage of all the resources on campus if they aren't informed of them.  So, OLs must always remember to give them information on those resources or the tools to find them on their own.


Orientation helps students ease their transition by providing the aspects the students mention during their interviews in our 2 day program.  For example, during her interview Rachel discusses getting to meet university faculty and staff.  During faculty and education sessions, students are given the opportunity to make these connections.  Charlie discusses finding friends and/or upperclassmen who can teach him the ways of college life.  This is provided to our first-years 48 times, with our lovely student staff!  Richard mentions learning about resources.  This is taken care of in every aspect of our program: resource fair, campus tours, the gameshow, team meetings, etc.  Lastly, Bobby talks about finding his niche.  By making students feel comfortable and letting them know that everyone has a place at RU, we do exactly that.  


Thank you!  :)

Stress, Stress, and more Stress


I recently had the fortune of accompanying my good friends Lee Seltzer and Zach Smith on one of their Scarlet Honors Ambassador tours. The Honors tours are set up in the exact same way as regular tours - parents and prospective students ask questions to a panel of undergrad students and deans - except that it is targeted towards students interested in enrolling into the SAS Honors program. Much of the questions asked are similar to what are asked during a regular tour, questions such as how difficult is to navigate between the campuses, where are dining halls and recreational facilities located, typical things every soon-to-be first-year (as well as their parents) would like to know.

However, during this particular session, many of the questions asked had to do with the competitiveness of certain programs or majors. My buddies Zach and Lee tell me that this is pretty typical for an Honors tour (that is not to suggest that Honors students are any more studious than anyone else; the primary goal of each and every student is to receive a good education).  And maybe I am wrong in this regard, but it appeared to me as though every time these questions were asked, there was the tiniest trace of anxiety in the voice of the asker. These kids weren't even done with high school yet and already they were stressing out about their ranks and GPAs!

I found myself discussing in great length and in great detail the various academic resources available to Rutgers students. Horror stories from the infamous Expository Writing class had trickled down to many of these students, so I explained that there are weekly (free) writing tutoring sessions held specifically for improving Expos essays. I also explained how every campus has a tutoring center available to students (also for free) for areas ranging from the hard sciences to mathematics to foreign languages, and everything in between. I explained that the tutors are all fellow students that are majoring in whatever they are tutoring, and that they themselves have taken whatever classes they are tutoring, and that my good friend Jason was one of them!

My friend Jason (usually he doesn't wear the sombrero while tutoring)

I also described the ODASIS and LSAMP programs, as well as the fact that every professor has office hours where their job is to literally just sit in their offices and wait for students to come and ask them questions. Yet there was one very important resource available (freely!) to all students that I didn't get a chance to discuss, and I wish I had: CAPS. Probably the most underrated and underused program here at Rutgers, the CAPS program is designed to "help students reach and maintain a positive, productive university experience." Students can meet one-on-one or in groups with certified counselors to discuss anything and everything, including the stresses of a large academic workload. 

After the essentials - the dorms, the dining halls, gyms, classroom buildings - are all down, the next most important thing for incoming freshmen to be aware of is the large number of academic resources available to them (at absolutely no cost).

Where in the world is Tyler C. Picone? 
*Sing to "Carmen Sandiego"
Tyler is trying to steal the secrets of NSO, can you find him in these pictures of places where first-year students can access resources? 

Is he in the computer lab inside Tillett? If he were, he would have untold access to resources such as: 

• The printing balance of $30.00 that is given to all students as part of their tuition, and allows them to print anything to their hearts content. 
• UNRESTRICTED internet access!
• Hole Punchers!!
• Staplers!!

The computer labs on every campus are usually open until 2 AM so that all students an get their print on! 

Could he be in Lucy Stone Hall A wing, looking for the Campus Dean or the Dean of Students?!
If he were he could talk to the deans about things such as: 

• Planning a schedule. 
• Undergraduate requirements. 
• Major Requirements
• And where else to find help 

Is he at Livingston Dining Commons???

Dear God NO

At the LDC, Tyler has access to: 

• Unlimited food for just 1 meal swipe! 
• Unlimited seatage for just 1 meal swipe! 
• 10 guest swipes!!! TEN!
• FREE WIFI!!!! 
• DINING HALL STAFF! 

Is he at Disability Services located in Lucy Stone A Wing?

If he was he could swindle all of these things from the disabled. 

• Accommodations for the bus. 
• Help when taking exams or in class. 
• Help getting around campus. 
• Anything else needed!

Is he at the Learning Center in Tillett? 

Well here he can get: 

• Tutored in any classes he is struggling with. 
• Academic advising to help him with overall school habits. 
• FREE PENS! 

Now could he be at Joyce Kilmer Library? 

If allowed in here he'll probably use his sly nature to get: 

• Unlimited access to books here. 
• Printing AGAIN!
• Internet AGAIN! 
• Assistance from the Library Staff. 

Is he trying to use NextBus to his advantage? 

If he were, he would be getting: 

• Round the clock updates about bus arrivals. 
• The ability to check on his smart/or not so smart phone. 
• Tickers inside the Student Center, as well as outside, to tell the times for the coming buses. 

Is he at South Tower, where the Housing Office for Livingston is? 

If given access, he would be able to:

• Get an ID photo taken. 
• Get a key if he was locked out of his room. 
• Return his key at the end of the year. 

Is he at The Center for Social Justice Education & LGBT Communication?

If he were, he could get access to: 

• Rainbow Perspective Housing information. 
• A new mentoring program. 
• EVEN counseling. 

I think he might be in the New Student Orientation and Family Programs Office in the Livingston Student Center. 

Here he would get access to: 

• Unlimited help from the NSO Staff. 
• Information about programs for new students. 
• The prettiest best staff in the world. 
• LOVE. 
• Staplers. 
• Music. 
• Games. 
• SUNSHINE! 

So there you have it, Tyler did not get to steal any of the resources available for first year students. Whew thank heavens! 

RA Living: Ashlee Redmond

When many people think of Resident Assistants they think of goody-goodies who get free housing, those people who unlock your door when you lose your key, or the narcs that ruin all the fun, but RAs are way more than that. RAs in conjunction with RHA help put together all the awesome events that go on in your building throughout the year and help out when your in a jam. 

Recently I had the opportunity to speak with a pretty awesome (and a colleague of mine) Ashlee Redmond.

Ashlee is a graduating senior from Maywood, NJ who is majoring in Labor Studies and Human Resource Management. In addition to being a Resident Assistant, Ashlee is also the corresponding secretary of Rutgers NAACP and a member of Tau Sigma National Honor Society.

I sat down with Ashlee to ask her a few questions about RA Living..

Why did you want to become an RA?
I was an RA at the school I transferred from, Wagner College in Staten Island NY, for a year, then I came to Rutgers and wanted to do it again because I loved my job. I just wanted to help students and be a positive role model for those around me.

What are some issues first years frequently come to you about?

First year students have a tough time adjusting to the different social atmosphere and increased school work. They also have to get acclimated to their new living situation, balancing school and home and managing their time.

 

How were your experiences with your RAs?

I love my RA's! They are very understanding and always willing to help when in stressful situations. I feel like some other buildings have issues because they don't have good chemistry but we work well with each other

What are some of the biggest challenges you face being an RA?

I don't really have any big issues, my building, which is an honors community, is very focused. I have not had to deal with any terrible situations. The biggest challenge would have to say would be getting residents out to programs, they are often so into their studying that they don't want to break their concentration so they won't attend.

Peep the cameo from our very own Kol!

Ashlee is one of those RAs who really loves her job! she gives selflessly to her residents and still successfully balances her academics and her extracurriculars. As a first year student, an RA can really impact your experience and how you feel about the University. Awesome RAs help students have an awesome experience and help make a first year student's transition into college life smoother!

Shoutout to all the awesome RAs out there!

*disclaimer: I thought I published this hours ago, but turns out I never hit publish, just preview... awkward.

10 Places to Be

I was kind of nervous to do this blog post, because I thought I would have a difficult time choosing only 10 things about Rutgers that would help first-year students get acquainted with the University.  However, after a lot of thought, I was able to narrow down my choices.  Below are ten different resources on campus that I believe first-year students MUST know to feel confident getting around campus and feel connected and engaged to the Rutgers Community.  There is no particular order!

Rutgers Bus System

The most useful way for students to get around the University is through the bus system.  The Rutgers bus system allows students to get between the different campuses easily and efficiently.  To be a successful Rutgers student, one must be comfortable with the buses.  It is important that students know how to get between different campuses for classes and to experience what other campuses have to offer.  First years might find the bus system intimidating, but it is easy to understand, and very quick!  There are bus stops throughout every campus, so you will never have to walk far to get to where you want to go!

For more information about the Rutgers Bus System, click here.

Krieger Learning Center / Record's Hall

I believe that it is important that students utilize every resource that is available to them.  I took a picture of the Krieger Learning Center as well as Records Hall, a computer lab on College Avenue.  The Krieger Center is a tutoring center where students can go to for academic help.  At all of the Learning Centers at Rutgers, the tutors are University students, faculty, and professional staff that provide academic support for FREE.  The students can make sure to reach for help if it is needed, or if they feel academically able, they can go out to apply for tutoring jobs, as well.  Record's Hall is in the picture to show students the University has a lot of places to study and get work done.  On every campus, there are a number of places where students can study including computer centers and quiet lounges.  The academic experience at Rutgers can get stressful, but as long as students reach out to find the many resources and places of support, they will be sure to succeed!

For more information about the Learning Centers, click here.

For more information about the Computing Services, click here.

Center for Latino Arts and Culture

The picture of The Center for Latino Arts and Culture is to represent the wonderful diversity present at the University, and it is very easy to be immersed in such different cultures at any time.  The Center for Latino Arts and Culture is just one of the departments focused around a single ethnicity and the culture surrounding it.  If students identify strongly with their ethnicity, I believe that they should get involved in the many cultural groups that Rutgers offers.  I know that being Middle Eastern is something I strongly identify as, so I have been to many Middle Eastern Clubs to get my face known to the community.  The Center for Latino Arts and Culture puts together many events that offer academic and extracurricular opportunities to discover the Latin culture and history at Rutgers University and around the world.  By simply walking in, students will be greeted by a wonderful staff that will gladly welcome them to the center and make their experience great!  I encourage all students to go and see how easily it is to get involved.

For more information about the CLAC, click here.

The Dining Halls

Every student should know where to eat, and luckily, they do not have to go far to get food.  On each campus, there is an amazing dining hall that provides buffet-style dining for a single meal swipe.  I took a picture of Brower on College Avenue, because it is my favorite one.  Each dining hall also provides take out meals, so if students are in a rush between classes and do not have time to sit down, they can swipe for a packaged meal for breakfast, lunch, or dinner!  I think that all students should be aware of all of the Dining Halls offered to them, because if they have a meal plan, they have access to SO MUCH delicious foods and they won't have to spend any extra cash.  Transitioning into college, students have to learn to have healthy eating habits, and as long as they are eating at the University's Dining Halls, they can choose whatever food they want to eat to ensure a healthy lifestyle.

For more information about Food Services, click here.

The Student Centers

For students to get the most out of the different campuses, they must feel confident in finding and navigating to each of the campus and student centers.  In each center, not only are there stores for students to buy necessary items, but there are also restaurants, as well as venues to many events.  For example, each campus center has a Multi-Purpose Room that organizations can use to hold events.  You can find out about these events at the main reception desk at the entrance of every student center.

For more information about the Student Centers, click here.

Rutgers Recreation

As an employee of Rutgers Recreation, I know all about the different opportunities present in the department.  Not only are there many recreational activities including, intramural sports, fitness classes, and personal training, but there are also many leadership opportunities within Recreation.  Students can sign up to be team captains for intramural teams and they can apply for an on-campus job within Recreation.  I have been a fitness assistant for over a year, and I absolutely love the job!  Staying physically fit is a great stress reliever for many students and as students are transitioning into Rutgers, they should make use of the many facilities and services that Recreation offers.

For more information about recreation, click here.

Residence Halls

Feeling safe and comfortable at school is the most important thing students need, and I believe that all starts in the Residence Hall they are living in.  For many students, this will be their first time ever living on their own, and they will have a lot of independence.  Residence Halls help in transition from living at home to living all on your own.  Each building has a Residence Life Staff of Resident Assistants, who are student leaders who provide support to the students for whatever they may need.  Residence Halls also provide students ways to get involved through Hall Government.  Rutgers's Hall Government, known as the Residence Hall Association, or RHA for short, is a very popular organization on campus and allows all student participation.  I know many Orientation Leaders have been involved in Hall Government, as well!

For more information about Residence Life, click here.

New Brunswick

To get the most out of Rutgers, I think that students should become familiar with the wonderful city in which it is found.  New Brunswick is a very lively city that is the center of nightlife and great food.  The picture is a picture I took of the hospital to represent the resources that can be found in New Brunswick.  Students are lucky enough to have restaurants, public transportation into the city, hospitals, and many fun hang out spots all within ten minutes of each other.  Many times, students choose Rutgers because of its proximity to such a great city.  Students can feel engaged in the New Brunswick Community by taking advantage and visiting the great places and stores within the city.

For more information about New Brunswick, click here.

University Libraries

For students to truly feel like they know the University, they must make use of the Library Services at Rutgers.  Each campus has multiple libraries that provide students with endless resources for their academics or for their personal knowledge.  Library Services has so much to offer and if there is something that University does not have, students can even borrow books and multimedia from other schools through the Inter-loan Library System.  First-year students should be aware of what the library services offer because it will make their first year on campus so much easier!

For more information on Library Services, click here.

Rutgers Deans

I took a photo of Bishop House to represent the important resource that many students often fail to reach out to - University Deans.  The Deans at the University are the people who have the most knowledge of Rutgers, and the best part is, any student can meet with them to pick their brains about anything!  By setting up a simple meeting, students can meet with academic deans, deans of students, or departmental deans.  Many times, the confusion that is involved with starting college can be cleared up by speaking with the deans, who, if they cannot answer your question, will lead you to people who will!  Once students feel like they can navigate around campus and find their deans, their experience here at Rutgers can be a lot smoother! 

The List of Deans and their numbers can be found in the student directory.

I know that other students will have other things to put in their photo collage, but I feel that these ten places give students a wide range of places and resources that will make their transition into Rutgers easier and more enjoyable.  It was actually really nice reflecting on the different places I love to go to, because it reminded of how much the school offers me.  I hope first-year students can look at this blog post and feel more comfortable navigating around the campus and becoming more involved!

Boom. Bang. Wegmans.

I used to dread going grocery shopping. Actually, I take that back; I kind of still do. I simply can’t tolerate walking around in stores for long periods of time! I can’t! And, no matter how much I know that I don’t like it and that I, ironically, know people who are legends in the field of taking forever to go food shopping, I always agree to tag along. Why? I have no clue. Still, I think that many of us have been through a similar, if not the same, situation:
Your parents say that they’re going to get a “few” items from the store, and they even have a “small” grocery list. A brief outing to fetch a gallon of milk (the 2% kind), wheat bread, and paper towels can easily turn into two hours’ worth of shopping.  ShopRite to Stop and Shop to Walmart to Kmart, you usually regret agreeing to go out at all! Even so, you might not mind it so much if you go shopping at an award-winning, awesome, diverse, successful, inclusive, empowering, purposeful, and valuable grocery store!

Where can you find such a place, you ask? (I didn’t even know ‘til recently).

 WEGMANS is that place, and they really are all over the country, so go! =)

Upon Team Rhymes with Orange’s commencement of their excursion, we were totally pumped to venture to Wegmans. Well, maybe not totally pumped, but we were certainly anxious as to what was to await us at a grocery store—in a good way. As I walked up to the automatic doors, the scent of freshly baked goods filled the air, customers were moving and grooving, and the staff members were doing their jobs with a smile. I simply knew that we were going to be in for a polished and informative session on the awesomeness of the family owned Wegmans.

In the first few moments of our experience at Wegmans, we met a worker named Karen. As our ever so kind hostess/ tour guide, Karen remains a highly skilled worker who works in whatever area of the store she is needed. She is just that good. Karen walked us around the aisles and gave us the play-by-play on how the successful business of Wegmans operates. The company checks “best if used by…” dates daily and keeps tabs on the pricing of the items, in hopes that they match up well with their circulars and other competing grocery stores. All of this is done to maintain the productivity of the company and keep it as Forbes’ 4th best out of 100 companies to work for. Go Wegmans!

Karen relayed to Team Rhymes with Orange that Wegmans has high standards and values. They do not sell cigarettes because that is simply not something that they want their brand associated with, no matter how much of a profit cigarettes could grant them. We were also informed that Wegmans does not have your everyday training when it comes to working for and with them. They have “universities”. Universities are the different departments of the store that the workers are trained under. For example, Karen was trained under the floral university. Even so, she also went to through the produce and fruits university, making her an efficient asset to the Wegmans team. All of the employees are trained in more than one area. This allows for the company to work as a team, and the customers can be served with the best information and convenience!

 A GROOVY FYI: In the cheese university, there are over 7,000 cheeses to learn about! Not a single person on his or her own can possibly know all 7,000, but as a university, business, team, and family, they can! =)

Wegmans also creates an inclusive space for the workers. They all wear name tags that sport… well, their names. Nothing else is shown on the name tags, just the name of the person. The business does not mention titles or positions on the name tags because they are not about a hierarchy, so there is not a reason for the positions to be displayed. They are about a cohesive team. Moreover, the executives visit the stores often, and this is not as a check up on the workers. It is simply to see if any help can be lent from them. If the executives see a spill, they do not call on the janitorial staff. They clean up the mess themselves. HOW COOL IS THAT!!?

Wegmans invites empowering, committed, and goal oriented workers into their stores. The company values their beliefs and purpose, and they will not stray aware from those aspects of their stores. It is because of their purposes to satisfy customers and create an atmosphere that is welcoming for customers and staff that have made them a prominent store in America, such a store that has survived and thrived in the economic hardships of the country. These purposes are kept in the minds of all of the workers, aiming all of them towards a common goal!

For the fun part (I'm totally serious), this all ties in perfectly with Rutgers NSO! There are so many parallels between Wegmans and NSO. We really do value the idea of a reverse hierarchy, and I think that is fantastic because as a team of leaders, we want cohesion and an open forum for everyone to put forth their best for the good of the incoming students (This is just like how Wegmans longs to put forth their best for the customers). Not to mention, as Orientation Leaders, we are going to have to take on roles that we aren't familiar with, similar to how Karen works in produce even though she was first trained in the floral department. We can depend on each other, and make the most of each others' talents and strengths to reach the goal of acclimating incoming students to Rutgers.

As Orientation Leaders, we are going to have to keep in mind our core values and the ways that we thrive, empower one another, fulfill our purpose, process our experiences, keep our ethics in tact, while understanding the ethics of others, and include one another for the wellbeing of new students. With such a mindset, there couldn't possibly be any room for dreading orientation in the manner that some dread shopping! Duh! Go NSO!

 

A First-Year Murder Mystery

For my final posting, I chose to attend a Rutgers Geek Week Program!  Although not a program specifically geared to first years, the Murder Mystery Party was a great experience for the first years, transfer, and new grad students in attendance!  It gave them a chance to interact with other students they’d never met and have a lot of fun in the process.

The Scene: It’s 1899 in Victorian London.  George Sweet, the 5^th Earl of Coddingham is hosting a party to “mend some fences” before leaving the country.  You see, George was not a very nice man in his life and he mistreated a lot of people.  This party was supposed to help repay some debts and make a few apologies to people, some, you might argue, who would want to see him dead...

The victim (just look at that ACTING!)

That’s me!  Upon arrival everyone at the party was given parts to play.  We began with pleasantries, acting out our various roles until disaster struck.  George Sweet has been poisoned!  Now the goal is to investigate his death, collecting various pieces of evidence from each other and attempting to put it all together to find out “who dunnit.”  The great plot twist was that after my character died, I RAN to the bathroom, changed clothes, shaved my face, and came back out as George’s son, William Sweet!  Hilarity ensued.

A forged marriage certificate attempting to legitimize George's secret first son!

I think the best part of this program was the fact that most people didn’t know each other, yet they were given roles to play, which gave them a chance to interact without the typical social anxieties.  In a way, have “walls” up as their characters actually helped them open up to each other.  I watched one first year really getting into his character and having fervent arguments with some other characters, all trying to get to the bottom of this mystery.  It was nice to see the mix of graduate and undergraduate students working together and having such a good time.

Our gallant "inspector," delivering some crucial evidence.

I think this kind of event could be a HUGE asset to summer orientation, if only we had enough time.  Even if there was a Murder Mystery option at Social on the first night, I think the first years could have a lot of fun with it!  Like a giant game of Clue!  There seems to be a lot of pressure, especially during Social, to break the ice and make new friends.  I think an activity like this could help people reach out of their comfort zones because they’d get to pretend to be someone else for a little while, with some genuine face to face interaction.

Oops, I almost forgot to mention the best part!  George Sweet was visciously murdered by none other than... his current wife, Lady Coddingham!  Let’s just say, she did it for the money.

Excursion to Stardust

RUTGERS AT STARDUST DINER

[NSO's Green Movement at Stardust]

Stardust Diner is a place where hard work and determination meets entertainment for the entire family.  Sound familiar? Take away the element of food service and add the zealous enthusiasm that comes with being a part of NSO and the parallels between OL's and the waiters/waitresses of Stardust are apparent.  The servers at Stardust could not simply walk in and apply as if it were any old diner in the city. Just as we are student leaders, they are a part of a class of performing arts with as decorated resume. This propels many of them into the lights of Broadway. I'm sure that us OL's are using this summer as a means of building skills to shape a brighter future for ourselves and those we hope to effect.

[Our waiter and one of the performers at Stardust: Shawn]

The waiters at Stardust are no joke! They come from top performing arts majors from around the country that use Stardust as a conduit to Broadway. Some come from NYU, SVA, and the performers double as waiters/waitresses. They use the tips to fund their artistic endeavors. In order to get a good idea of their roles and how they relate to ours, we'll summarize the philosophies of Shawn (above) to understand how they can help us this summer.

Shawn, who studied theater at the Second City theatre in Chicago, explain to us the philosophies and values that got him to where he is now. Here are a couple:

Shawn says:

"One of the hardest aspects of the job is having to be the center of attention on bad days"

This is probably the golden nugget I was looking for when I interviewed Shawn. Our outside lives will still exist with the same motley variations of emotions attached. Our performance with the incoming students is contingent upon how we deal with our emotional responses to any event that conceives our emotion. Shawn deals with this by trying to focus on the people he came to entertain. That sense of altruism must be practiced as we orient first years to the daunting, yet fulfilling Rutgers experience. Our attitude will be a big part of how they perceive this school.

Shawn Says:

"It is vital to understand the importance of perspective within personal experiences"

Empathy was one of the biggest values we studied throughout our class. Shawn could not understand the perspective of others without this quality. Empathy is how we enter into the perspective of others. Shawn's day isn't a typical day in the life of your average American. He works in Time Square, a place where all cultures throughout the world are represented in some fashion. Shawn interacts with people with standards, values, and morals that could be from the other side of the world. He must altruistically supplant his own morals in order to understand the morals of others. This takes an extraordinary amount of critical thinking and empathizing. If we utilize Shawn's advice, it would make working with the diverse crowd of first years not only edifying, but also enjoyable.

[Come for a meal, leave with a smile...and a song stuck in your head]

New York is always a fun visit for a Rutgers student. This city is almost a preview of what Rutgers prepares a large amount of its students for. This is a city where one must know how to navigate a path. The subways are not that much different from the Rutgers buses. Stardust is a glimpse into the awesome qualities that some of the people in the city possess.  Many of the workers are from all over the country and have unique stories. They all sound so much like this group of Orientation Leaders at Rutgers.