Seneca Polytechnic began orientation for its fall semester last week. New and returning students were greeted by promotions for student services, alongside advertisements for phone carrier plans. Arriving students were offered a friendly, guiding hand as they were shown the amenities they’d already paid for through tuition.
Seneca’s York campus hosts a constant stream of events for its students throughout the year via the Seneca Student Federation; this year they began on a strong footing with puppy therapy. The SSF for short, it manages the nuts and bolts of student life – with a particular emphasis on wellness.
For new students, the excitement and bustle of so many new faces and new responsibilities can be intimidating. Seneca’s student body is young – last year the average age of students was 22. Every year the college hosts thousands of international students (7000 in 2019,) freshly arrived in a new country. With so much of the student body taking on radically new phases in their lives, the importance of a smooth and welcoming orientation is tantamount.
For returning students, the experience can be less daunting. With the uncertainty of new places and new faces safely overcome, the return to a familiar environment and friendly smiles offers encouragement and excitement. “It wasn’t hard for me to adjust at all,” said Alexa, a returning student. “The first week was fine, it was getting used to new professors and new classmates… other than that it was nice, I actually enjoyed my first week.”
But it can take time for some, such as returning student Maria, to re-adjust after four months off. “A week ago I was feeling like ‘I could do this’ cause I was starting to mentally prepare to get back into school, but now that I’m actually here it might take like a week. But I guess by the end of this weekend I’ll be okay.”
For Alexa, the transition from an unknown environment to a familiar one made all the difference. “We were a bit more shy in the first year because it was like… new people, new environment, and we didn’t know anyone. But now it’s like okay, you’re going into new things with the people you already know, so you feel a bit braver, and more comfortable.
As Seneca’s students return to class, the college has opportunities to learn lessons from its students. The familiarity experienced by returning students soothes their anxieties… but without the uncertainty of a new place, is the magic of discovery lost? New students have the opposite problem, with an over-abundance of uncertainty crowding out their potential excitement. If Seneca Polytechnic can find strategies for bridging these distinct experiences in orientation week, they can help new students explore their new environment safely, while keeping things fresh and exciting for the returning crowd.
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