The first year experience for a college student is very challenging in a variety of aspects. Physically, academically, socially, mentally and spiritually, the first year student is challenged in growth every day. When going to a massive university such as Rutgers University, there are many things the first year student must conquer, and a major resource that they should turn to is their resident assistant. This is especially true in Demarest Hall where my friend, Mike, is a resident assistant on a first year floor.
While knowing Mike through my own first year, we experienced many of the same situations, but while interviewing him, it was very interesting to see what new insights he has learned as an RA during his sophomore year. One of the most well known challenges facing a first year student is known as "the freshman fifteen" which is discussed here:
Although this is one of the most well known issues, as well as an important issue, it is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to the challenges a first year student faces, and this idea became apparent when interviewing Mike. One of the main themes that were discussed were the freedoms that a new college student faces. With that freedom comes responsibility, which is an adjustment for some individuals depending on their family backgrounds. According to Mike, the first year student faces challenges such as:
Going to class
Eating correctly
Choosing their own classes
Cleaning their rooms
Dedicating enough study time
Getting involved
The common theme with the aforementioned challenges is that before going to college, many of these students are aided or forced to do all of these activities by a parent/guardian or other adult. When moving to college, this pressure is alleviated which forces the first year to tackle these challenges by themselves or find these services that they need to help them by themselves. This can be a lot to handle, which is where a resident assistant can be a very good resource. Mike discussed different aspects of his job that he does to assist these students. One of these is just to be a resource for the students to come to field questions. This is incredibly important, as he explained, because having a friendly face to help assist you when you're stressed is vitally important. Another aspect of the job is to try and build a community within the floor that they live. This is also a major part of the job because the resident assistant may not be around to answer all the questions their residents may have. Having other students in their dorm that are going through the same situation is essential, because they can learn from others mistakes and learn about their experiences as well.
Mike explained that being a first year student is a scary, as well as exciting time, especially at such a large university. He pointed to these helpful tips for first years:
1) Budget the correct amount of time to study, you are here for academics.
2) There are many resources at Rutgers. If you have a problem, there is most likely an office to help you.
3) Budget your time to sleep and exercise. Your body and mind will thank you for it.
4) Have fun! College is the best years of your life!
For a moment, go back in time, and imagine your second semester during your senior year of high school. Excitement is in the air as graduation is quickly approaching, you probably know where you are heading to school in the fall, and, all the while, you are reassuring yourself that where you chose is the perfect place for you to be. For senior Erin Kennedy, at Cheshire High School in Cheshire, Connecticut she experiencing these wealth of emotions as we speak. For Erin, the anticipation of college emits a mix of excitements and fears.
In fall 2012 Erin is going to attend Southern Connecticut Sate University and is planning to major in Secondary Education with English and have a minor in special education. Not to mention, she will hopefully be accepted to their honors program. However, the rigor of the program has her worried. “My biggest fear would be being able to handle the schoolwork,” Erin stated. There is no question about it: college level reading and work is definitely more challenging than that of high school’s. Another fear Erin had was being able to maintain a balance between a social life, classes, and sleep. Time management is, no doubt, another common fear most seniors have before attending college.
Amongst the fear, though, there is excitement. “I’m most excited about meeting new people and making friends that I'll hopefully have for the rest of my life, and having college be the best years of my life,” Erin said. The most exciting part of freshmen year and college, in general, is meeting new people and creating bonds that last forever. Despite her fears, Erin is sure that Southern Connecticut is the best place for her to be because of their superb education school.
The fears and excitements Erin feels are common emotions for any high school senior to feel. I recall feeling the same way about the college workload before I came to Rutgers University. “Can I handle it?” I thought. “How will I manage my time?” I thought to myself too. These are questions that can be answered at a summer orientation. However, they are answers that shouldn’t be merely stated but explained and demonstrated. As an orientation leader, I can talk about the difference I see in my own experience from high school to college level work. For example, the fact that you will only have three exams of different weights to determine your grade rather than multiple quizzes or essays of at least eight pages each that you write five times during a semester on top of readings, made my first semester difficult to adjust. It’s certainly hard to sugarcoat the fact that college work is no joke, but instead of completely overwhelming freshmen we can mention the resources available to them to help them adjust to the workload such as the learning centers on each campus, libraries, and teacher assistants and professors who are willing to aid students and show them their potential. I’d share with freshmen that during your first semester it is important not to overload yourself with extra activities and even extra classes to make the adjustment to the workload a little easier. One of the best ways we can educate freshmen on how to handle workload or manage time is through sharing experiences. As far as time management goes and maintaining balance goes, it’s important for freshmen to know that it takes practice and diligence. Giving students a planner like the one Rutgers Student Life gives out every year is a perfect first step for freshmen to take towards good time management. During orientation we should stress good time management habits like writing all of your assignment due dates or exams in an agenda. Perhaps, creating an activity where freshmen have a list of mock assignments and activities that they have to prioritize to manage time would introduce them to good time management habits as well. Another possible way to introduce new students to good time management habits and even work habits would be to include a skit where orientation leaders act out situations and conflicts where there is conflict between what you want to do and what you should do and when. Sharing personal experiences of our own fears before we attended college and demonstrating them through activities and skits to new students like Erin would be extremely helpful and prepare students for college life.
Excitement is definitely, if not, the most common emotion for a new student to feel before attending college. I know that I couldn’t wait to go to college and attend my own orientation. If anything, orientation made me even more excited for college because I was introduced to all of the opportunities I had available to get involved on campus. Erin said she was excited to meet new people and the best way to do that is by getting involved. We can harness the excitement that new students feel by showing them all of clubs and groups on campus to join. A mini involvement fair mimicking the large one held in the fall would be a great way to do that. Students can browse a few popular organizations and see what they’re all about. I know at my orientation last summer there was something like that but there weren’t that many organizations represented. Perhaps choosing a few from each type of club at Rutgers would ensure to appeal all different types of new students. I’ve joined numerous of clubs and organizations on campus and have most definitely made friends with people that will last a lifetime. There is no doubt that after Erin gets more comfortable with her academic load she will get involved at Southern Connecticut.
With an array of emotions incoming students like Erin feel before coming to college, fear and excitement are the two most common, and it’s up to a process like orientation to alleviate the fear and harness that excitement. As an orientation leader, I am excited, myself, to be able to ease new students of their fears and get them really pumped about getting involved on campus and making new friends. After all, that's what we're here for!
A typical family road trip to and through Rutgers University: Mom is in the front passenger seat, Dad is driving, and you and your two brothers are in the back doing what you do best—nothing. Oh, if you don’t have two brothers, then pretend. =) It’s move-in day at Rutgers, you are a first-year student, and everything is going according to plan, until Dad makes a wrong turn.Mom doesn’t refrain from yelling, you are hungry, and your siblings, well, for the sake of keeping this story simple, they feel the same way that you do. All in all, you’re lost. You see that you are now entering the lot of Davidson Hall, when you’re supposed to be at Nicholas. So, you’re REALLY lost. However, you, yourself, know not to fret because you remember that you once read this cool little blog post about Rutgers. You know that Rutgers has so much to offer, and that those offerings can help a first-year student navigate around the campus and even get himself involved. Time to look at such a blog post! #Leggo
Now, the bus system remains something that you MUST learn about! The Rutgers Bus system can be a bit perplexing, BUT once you master it, well, you’re a master.Rutgers works with NextBus to get all of us, here at Rutgers, around the campus with ease. There are monitors at the bus stops to let you know what time a certain bus is coming. Also, there are signs that show which buses go to the bus stop that you happen to be at. You also see the route/ stops of that bus. What’s even more amazing is the fact that you can check the NextBus website, and see when a bus will be at a given bus stop. #TalkAboutEfficiency. Different buses go to different campuses, but if you read the posted route maps or check online, you’ll know that the REXB Bus takes one from Douglass to Busch, or that the LX Bus gets a person from Livingston to College Ave.Even so, take my words. The F Bus does wonders! If you want to avoid rush hour traffic and get to classes from Douglass to College Ave, then that’s your bus! George Street can get pretty congested, so take the F if you have places to go, people to see, or a class to get to in 4 minutes.
Student centers really are the hotspots of Rutgers University. My personal favorites happen to be the Rutgers Student Center on College Ave and the Douglass Campus Center. All of the student centers, though, feature places to eat, relax, study, and host events. Awesome, right? Not to mention, these centers also have friendly people who man the information desks. Anything you want to know about the campus, you can learn from these people. They are extremely knowledgeable of what goes on around Rutgers, so feel free to ask them! If you’re lost, they’ll help you find your way. If you want to know what events are coming up around the college, they’ll tell you! #StudentCentersForTheWin
Failed your first Expos paper?No biggy!Go get a tutor at one of the Writing Centers! The Writing Program at Rutgers will stress you out, one way or another, but when you feel as though it is becoming too much, the tutors and staff at the writing centers are there to help. Workers there also can inform you of any writing contests, new internships, or interesting writing oriented clubs or events. They really know how to encourage you to put forth your best work, and they not only tutor, but they also educate. And, after you’ve met with your tutor and revised your essay to A+ material, go print it out in any one of the Rutgers computer labs. The computer labs are all over the campus. There are some in libraries and designated buildings, and if you run into any trouble with a computer or printer, feel free to ask a Computer Lab Consultant.I’m a fan of Loree, just because it’s one Douglass and close to my dorm. =) BUT, I also love going to the spacious Mabel Smith Douglass Library and Kilmer Library. They are ALWAYS quiet, great places to study, and of course… print papers (and find books). [No hashtag this time]. #Sike
Now, to some things that you can find on each campus at Rutgers…
Post offices are awesome! Duh. At Rutgers, you are notified of when you receive mail or a package, and then you go and get it. It’s as easy as that! Most of them are near the campus centers, so that reinforces how conveniently placed everything is.
In addition, there are recreation centers on every campus! You can go there to bond with friends, take classes, or avoid the dreaded Freshman 15. The gyms are great for playing basketball, volleyball, or participating in any other physical activity that you could imagine.
The best thing to do after working out is eating! You will find great dining halls on every campus. Try all of them out to see which one you like best. Personally, Livingston Dining Commons suits me the best! I love everything about it!
#SWAG
This was a lot of information, but if you ever need a potty break when you’re in class or just walking around, bathrooms are everywhere! ---Just thought I’d let you know.
The most important thing to realize while being at Rutgers for the first time is that people are here to help you! If you’re lost, ask someone! If you can’t find the bathroom, ask! The student leaders and faculty at Rutgers will gladly help. With that said, seeking academic advising or answers about careers is what a first-year student is supposed to do. Visit any of the Advising Offices and get any information you need. #ShoutOutsToTheDeansOfLivingstonWhoPutUpWithMe. Also,Career Services on College and Busch will get you moving into the right direction to reach your occupational goals.
One last place that will help you find your way, and get you involved is your RA’s room… well, the RA in your RA’s room. Residential Assistants are so helpful! My RA, Karan, really knows everything there is to know about getting around Rutgers, getting involved, and making the most out of being a Scarlet Knight! He reminds me of what a student leader at Rutgers really means. #ShoutOutToKaran.
Like RA’s, Orientation Leaders are there to help and lead. I think it is great that the orientation program is growing in ways that focuses on true leadership and using that leadership to build a relational environment that can positively affect the incoming students. Parallel to what we learn as Orientation Leaders, relational leadership delves into creating relations with those who are affected by the results of our goal. (That goal being to help incoming students). I learned that having the tools to get around can be very helpful, but what is even more helpful is realizing that at any second someone is able to personally assist. As a first-year, I have many resources that tell me about buses, meal swipes, and involvement, but those resources only go so far. It is when someone, whether a professor, friend, or student leader, takes the time to help me when I get off at the wrong stop (that doesn’t happen anymore)or can’t find Lucy Stone B (that still happens). There are many resources at Rutgers, and everyone should use them to their advantage. Still, as OLs, we are walking, talking resources who can easily make a first-year’s transition to Rutgers that much more comfortable.
Lost, confused, and scared, are all feelings that take over the minds of freshmen when the first step foot into Rutgers University. With the overwhelming joy of finally becoming independent comes a great deal of uncertainty. However, a First-year Resident Assistant can be the perfect guide to a successful freshman year filled with countless opportunities and unforgettable experiences.
My freshman year Resident Assistant, James V. Maguire, has been one of the most memorable people I have met thus far. His vibrant personality encourages people to be optimistic about life. He is constantly available for his residents and always knows the exact things to say in any situation. My freshman year would have been so bland without his existence. He absolutely loved his experience as a Resident Assistant and made a huge impact on the people around him.
He believes that freshmen come into college thinking they are in 13th grade, with their high school mentalities still in mind. After a couple of months, students get used to the environment and surround themselves with people that help them make it through their college experience. He also believes that students need to take advantage of every opportunity they come across because their freshman year is the guideline for the rest of college.
"You can not learn anything about college from a book. You learn from experience".
Freshmen need more than just a lecture of campus rules, and struggle with many things such as:
getting to classes
knowing what buses to take
knowing dinner schedules
finding recommended professors
registering for classes
getting a lottery number
and many more unexpected things
This is why a Resident Assistant has to have thorough knowledge of what the University has to offer and how they can help their residents with any concerns they might have. James V. Maguire went through training on the things that might happen during the first 6 weeks of college. He found out that you can not anticipate anything, you just have to keep an eye opened for the many possibilities. The struggles you expect are not the ones you get as a Resident Assistant and that is why you have to be prepared for anything.
So you have a ShopRite here. Some Stop and Shops over there. Maybe a sprinkle of PathMarks to the left and a dash of Kings way down yonder. But wait one second, we are missing one HUGE name here. As you can tell just from the mere title of this blog post, we are missing Wegmans! Now. Wegmans, Wegmans, Wegmans. When we were informed by Paula that we would be going to Wegmans for our excursion trip, I was not really sure how to feel. In my hometown of Bridgewater, we have a reasonable variety of supermarkets. I lived in an area of Bridgewater that were near the towns, Somerville, Manville, and Bound Brook, and the supermarkets that were around me were the Shop Rites and Stop and Shops. Wegmans was on the other side of town and it was simply out of the way. Plus, Wegmans had this reputation of exclusively catering to the "better-off families" of the community and in the event that we did drive past it, the majestic structure of the supermarket seemed to attest to that. I mean look at it! Look at the BEAUTY that is Wegmans!
How these beliefs turned out to be misconceptions. The excursion experience not only allowed me to experience the wonderful tastes of the Wegmans Dumplings, but it also opened my eyes to realize that: 1. Wegmans does not cater to any exclusive group of people and 2. The philosophies that the Wegmans' owners, supervisors, and workers live by relate extremely well to the goals of New Student Orientation.
The Orange Team at Wegmans!
Wegmans is incredible. Don't believe me? Just read this article: Wegmans In Terms of Ranks
There are reasons why Fortune Magazine rated Ranked number THREE in 100 Best Companies to Work For. The excursion experience taught me why Wegmans deserved that rank. When I and the rest of the Orange Team went to the Wegmans in Woodbridge Township, we had the pleasure of meeting Karen, an employee of Wegmans who has worked for the company for several years. Karen was incredibly sweet- you can just think of her as the Barbara Blackwell of Wegmans Woodbridge Township. She offered us a mini tour of the store and then we went upstairs so she could give us even more information: she even sectioned off a portion of the upper floor for us!
What Karen taught us that day was incredibly relevant to NSO. I am going to try my best to relate the key components of Karen's information to NSO! So here we go...
1. We are ALL Equals
Karen told us something that I thought was pretty darn interesting. She told us that the name tags that the employees wear may differ in the color (for example, beginning workers, specifically teenagers who start as cashiers may have a name tag that is red, then progress to yellow and then some time after that, switch to a permanent green). HOWEVER, the name tags do not show the title of the worker. The name tag simply states the name of the employee. You may work as a janitor, in the bakery, as a cashier, or be the store manager, but no one would ever know! I especially liked this detail because it alludes to something very important: it levels the field for everyone. One person is NOT better than the other and another person does not matter LESS. Wegmans, through this practice, emphasizes that ALL employees, no matter their statuses, matter BECAUSE they all contribute to the success of the company. This relates perfectly to NSO. Why? In NSO, there are different ranks. We have our supervisors, we have our OTLs, the OLs, and the incoming students, to say the least. However, just because there are differences in terms of our responsibilities and who has to interact with who, this does not make us more or less important than another member of NSO. As an OL in the making, I have never felt intimidated by NSO supervisors, OTLs, or returning OLs because they have created such a comfortable environment for me. We do not focus on our titles or ranks- we focus on how to be successful as a WHOLE organization. Just like Wegmans, we focus on our mission and through these efforts do we hope to be successful.
2. No ONE person has to know EVERYTHING.
Like all supermarkets, Wegmans has various departments within its store. This includes a Bakery, Market Cafe, Patisserie, Deli and Cheese Shop, Pharmacy, Seafood, Floral Shop, etc. As Karen was telling us, Wegmans understands that most employees will need to be trained to work in a certain department. Employees are actually put through different "universities." This means that before an employee can work in the seafood department, like Karen for example, that employee must go through "seafood university." The employee learns all the details about what fish are available, how to cut the products properly, how to properly clean the areas, etc. Only after the individual graduates from the university can the employee work in the department. In Wegmans, each department has a university. The beauty behind the Wegmans University training is that it shows interested applicants that you do not need to know everything about the department to become involved in it. You will be TRAINED. You come in with a certain amount of knowledge and add on to that knowledge through your time at the company. It is a PROGRESSIVE process. Through the employees that already work at the departments, you will learn the skills and knowledge necessary to excel in that department. This definitely relates to NSO because not every OL or OTL will have ALL the knowledge that students during the orientation will seek. For example, this year I became involved in RHA, became an RA, and am also a member of Children Aids Network. Therefore, my expertise lies in these areas. But, if I had a student who was interested in different activities, like Dance Marathon, I would direct them to another OL or OTL who would have the answers. The NSO staff, COLLECTIVELY, possesses a wealth of knowledge. Therefore, like Wegmans, NSO does not expect you to know all the information. However, NSO does expect you to contribute what you do know so that the knowledge and resources of the organization is as thorough and expansive as possible so incoming students may use it at their disposal.
There are reasons why Wegmans has been going strong for over 40 years now in Syracuse!
3. STICK by your values and beliefs.
Back in 2008, Wegmans made it public that they would no longer sell cigarettes on their shelves. Feeling extremely distrustful today? Here's the article to prove it: Wegmans Article . Karen mentioned this bold move while she was talking to us. She told us to realize that this was a noteworthy move because this resulted in a loss of profit as well as a group of customers. However, Karen emphasized the underlying point that the profits did not matter to Wegmans. What DID matter was the message they were sending by allowing the sales of cigarettes in their stores. I personally thought that this action was incredibly applaudable and that it took a lot of courage on the part of this company to follow through with its decisions. Wegmans stuck by its beliefs and I feel like that is a rare incident in today's modern world of big corporations. Like Wegmans, NSO must also stick by its values, virtues, and beliefs. We must promote and stand by the University because this is a central value of the organization we work for. For example, take an incoming student who asks whether it is best to buy the books directly from the University or from a cheaper alternative like Amazon, Chegg, etc. Due to the central value that NSO holds true, which is standing by the University and instilling a positive image of it in the incoming freshmen, we must recommend and say that the students should buy textbooks from the University. Although many of us may do otherwise, as a spokesperson for the University, we must stay loyal to the school and highlight the benefits of buying text through Rutgers. This includes: assurance that the textbook is the right one for the specific course/Rutgers, it is full in content (meaning no missing pages or portions), etc.
On a concluding note, I found a great video on Youtube that goes more into what makes Wegmans successful and why we should emulate their practices as an organization. Check it out guys! :)
What do you think of when you first hear the word waiter?
Most of the time, people recall the moments when restaurant waiters have either messed up their orders, took too long to serve food, or were just plain disrespectful. However, there have also been those special moments when we have had great service, and we can usually tell from the moment the waiter introduces him or herself. It’s in their voice, their body language, their facial expressions, and their energy. It’s their character and personality shining through for all to see. Now, add singing to that persona, and you have the waiters at Stardust Diner.
Stardust Diner, located in Times Square in New York City, is home to future broadway and TV stars—their signature singing waiters. As soon as my color team, Green Movement, entered the retro-designed restaurant, we were surrounded by waiters in their distinct purple and blue uniforms, walls covered with celebrity photos, and the sound of Justin Bieber’s Baby being sung by a waitress. For some, it may have looked like just another diner, but the distinct feature of energetic, singing waiters puts Stardust on a whole different level. That is how they attract their customers, and, to simply put it, it works.
Meet Sean!
Although Green Movement enjoyed a wide variety of diner food from chicken fingers and fries to pasta and milkshakes, the biggest treat for us was meeting our genuinely kind and passionate waiter, Sean. It’s not every day that his customers want to informally interview him as he serves food, so we were at first unsure of how he would take it, but the moment we asked, he was on board. Sean shared such a wide range of information with us, such as his personal philosophies and how he feels about his job, but the following points are what stuck with me the most, especially in terms of my own value system and my role as a NSO staff member.
1. As a waiter, as a human being, Sean has his bad days, but that doesn’t stop him from getting the job done. In fact, he appreciates the uniqueness of his position because the singing actually “refocuses him.” That’s the attitude I aspire to use for NSO. Like we’ve learned in class, play space works because it gives us the freedom to do our job with creativity and lightheartedness. I want to use that positive energy as my fuel for the summer, especially during the tough times. I want to sing! I want to dance! I want to play games! Knowing that I can do all of this with NSO is what makes me love this organization.
2. Sean shared with us his belief that “Two people can go through the same experience, but get different things out of it. I like to practice gratitude.” This especially resonated with me because it helped me achieve a greaterrespect for diverse perspectives. To Sean, this job is a stepping-stone for his true aspirations in the film industry, yet he still remains thankful for the opportunity he has been given and makes the most of it too. He even met his current girlfriend through Stardust. And it’s not just Sean, but everyone he works with. “We all feel lucky.” That’s the mentality I currently have for NSO, and I don’t want that to change. In fact, my gratitude towards NSO grows with each week (especially through our leadership class), because I have found some great friends and even found myself as a Rutgers student and as a better person, through NSO. I really am thankful for what it has given me and what is yet to come.
As the cherry on top, Sean performed Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ before we left. Maybe it was the universe speaking to me, or maybe it was just a funny coincidence. Either way, I know that song means that much more to me now.
Growing up in Buffalo, NY, we did not have many selections of grocery stores. However, my mom never complained about this because she fell in love (literally) with not only a grocery store, but a SUPERmarket chain named Wegman's.
Obviously, this does not look like any other grocery store. The lighting, style, and displays make it look almost extravagant, but still, not too over the top. Not only does this supermarket contain aisles of daily necessities, but the stores also house Market Cafe's, full of freshly prepared and cook to order food, full-service pharmacies, bakeries, butchers, and more. They even have a kids' center, called WKids, where parents can drop of their children so they can shop in peace. (I used to love going grocery shopping with my mom for this reason.) Multiple errand trips can be avoided with this one stop.
Coming to visit Wegman's with the Orange Team was like trip from my past. Is it weird to say I missed it? Wegman's offers all of these services which makes it unique, but when we asked one of their employees, Karen, what makes them SO special, she answered, without hesitation, "The people we hire." From the moment we walked through the doors, the happy and helpful atmosphere was present. Signs pointing where to go for what, employees with shirts saying, "Ask Me," and just smiles all around would make anyone glad to go grocery shopping. For lack of better words, everything just looked so clean and well-kept. Employees definitely take pride in their work: I have never seen that before at ANY grocery store.
We sat down with Karen to talk about Wegman's in general. Instead of learning about what they sell, she got right down to WHY they are successful. Not only do they offer all of these services, but also, the heads of the company take great care of their workers. For as long as I can remember, Wegman's has been ranked one of the top one hundred places to work for. This does not only apply for those who are full-time. They hire various ages, and for those entering college, they welcome them to apply for scholarships which the heads generally award to each store. Therefore, the people LOVE working here and take pride in providing amazing service. Whether it is helping a customer find a unique item or reaching that top box of cereal on the shelf, they are happy to do their jobs each day. Happy workers=happy customers.
Who would have thought working at a grocery store would be so much fun?
One of the major things Karen talked to us about was equality. Different levels of employees may wear different shirts, but everyone has the same name-tag: with their name and how many years they have been serving customers. No matter how high up they are, they are never too high to pick up a fallen product or spill that could lead to a customer injury. Everyone helps out. I thought this was a very honorable act. They could easily put "Manager" on their name-tag or call someone to clean up the spill, but instead, they leave their position out to show that they are all here for one purpose, serving customers, no matter how highly ranked they are.
Coming into this excursion, I was not sure what to expect from this experience. But during the trip, I realized how much it can relate to us at New Student Orientation. First and for most, we must remember why we are here: the students. No matter what session it is, we have to act like it's our first session with our highest energy. Sometimes, this may mean running on five hours of sleep because we stayed up too late playing games at Easton Ave Apartments or helping each other out because one of us just is not having a good day. Wegman's emphasizes being a team: which is what we are, too. Each employee is hired for a certain reason, as were we. We are all different in our own way. Whether we are the outspoken individuals or the more quiet yet thoughtful ones, we are here for sole purpose of helping others.
Another main Wegman's concept we can relate to is versatility. Each staff member is trained in multiple areas to ensure that they can help out other places than their specialty when needed. For example, Karen worked at the Florist just during the Valentine's Day rush. Each one of us on NSO has different interests. Therefore, we will have students who will relate to those hobbies, activities, clubs, majors, etc. We, individually, may not know the answer, but we can use and depend on each other as resources of knowledge. The students will appreciate it greatly if they know there is someone they can talk to. That simple reference can go a long way and make them even more comfortable in their transition.
Here are some key points for us to remember this summer, inspired by Wegman's:
1. Happy workers=happy customers
2. Equality
3. Sole purpose: the students
4.Versatility
Wegman's even have their own blog (just like us!) If you're interested in healthy recipes from their own workers, success stories, and more, check out: Fresh Stories.
Of course, fresh produce
I could not resist putting some pictures of the foods they offer: not only on shelves, but also made by order!
Their very own sushi bar!
Old-Fashioned Sub station
Many of their products sold are from their own brand!
