As an undergraduate, I had the privilege of attending an outstanding orientation program which set the tone of my college experience and inspired me to build a career creating such experiences for others. When I began my undergraduate education at Western Washington University (WWU), I participated in the optional two-day orientation program for first-year students. By attending orientation, I was able to start my university experience on a positive note by learning all about WWU, the campus environment, and the surrounding community. I made strong friendships and connections with my peers, the orientation student leaders, and staff that I maintained throughout college. Overall, after attending I felt better prepared to embark on my college journey because I was given crucial tools, resources, and support that aided my transition to university life. Especially as an out-of-state and first-generation college student, I greatly valued this opportunity. Now, as a first-year graduate student in Higher Education, I am passionate about providing a positive orientation experience for first-year and transfer students as an …show more content…
As a Peer Advisor in Career Services at WWU, I was largely involved in the implementation of the team for the following year. I helped to interview candidates, make hiring decisions, and train the new Peer Advisors. In their training course each week I instructed them on how to conduct resume checks with students and served as a resource to answer any questions about the position. Being involved in the hiring process from start to finish was a valuable learning experience and it was such a joy mentoring an enthusiastic and hard-working group of student leaders. I would like to gain more knowledge in this area and continue to develop my leadership skills as a supervisor and mentor to orientation student