Orientation Leaders discuss their Experience

Photo of new student orientation session in June, 2025. Photo Credit: Dean College

Last week, Dean College introduced our newest members to the Bulldog community. The campus offered a range of activities and social events. But who helps set up these events and guides our new students on campus? I have asked two orientation leaders who participated in Bulldog Beginnings about their experiences during the event and to see what challenges they faced. The Dean Daily interviewed Angelica Proctor and Paige Langston to discuss their experiences helping Dean College set up the event. Both Paige and Angelica moved early on August 25^th, a week before the semester began. They were able to move in early due to peer mentoring and the executive board training. Like many orientation leaders, their week started on August 27^th, when students in the Arch program arrived on campus. They worked from August 27^th to September 1^st.  Outside of orientation leadership, Paige is a senior who is majoring in musical theater with a minor in dance and sociology. Paige is also the president of SGA. Angelica is a junior who is double majoring in criminal justice and marketing. The first question that The Dean Daily asked them was about how they believed Bulldog Beginnings went, not just for them but for the Freshmen as well. Angelica started by saying, “It generally went pretty well. We had a minor setback, but it was nothing that the whole team couldn’t come together and figure out. Especially with our bosses Kathryn, Emma, and Riana. They really help us make Bulldog beginnings fun for everybody. Not just for the students, but also for the parents to.”  

Photo of new student orientation session in June, 2025. Photo Credit: Dean College

In the following question, we asked whether they faced any challenges during their experience. They noted that it was challenging to get more people involved with Bulldog Beginnings Angelica stated that. “yes, it will get you out of your dorm, but it also a way for you to be more social, get to interact with people on campus, get to know more people in your class, it's a reason for Bulldog Beginnings...that was the main challenge for people not getting what Bulldog Beginnings actually was.” 

Paige followed up, “There was also a little bit of homesickness, things like that, as students, it’s kind of difficult to help other students through because were also dealing with that as well...so there were some issues that were brought to us that were difficult as students to handle.” This will be Paige’s last year here at Dean College; Angelica, however, will continue as a Senior next year. Our final question to Angelica was if she wanted to take on the role again as an orientation leader. Her response “I would definitely do Bulldog Beginnings and orientation in general over the summer and next year because it was really fulfilling for me and was nice to interact with new students on campus, and helping them feel not just not that much weight anymore. I know that being an out-of-state student, I was really worried about coming to college and bulldog beginnings, and when I did orientation, I just want to be that little safety net for someone else like I was this year.” Overall their experiences was a great opportunity to get to know new students and develop there leadership skills.