I awoke from my room in the Sem early. Like 5:45am early. Showered, dressed in head-to-toe in purple, and drove to the Commons for breakfast with the other PMs. It always seems that it is at this point that it really hits me. Music is playing (cue the "Bulletproof"), everyone in the room is filled with nervous energy, and it all culminates when the Director of Student Activities, Jim Hermelbracht, greets us with a hearty "Good Morning!!"
After our breakfast of eggs and bacon, we are off to our assigned locations. I was stationed at Boland Hall. Along with a few other PM's, we helped check incoming students into where they'd be staying that night.
9:30am came very quickly as the masses assembled at the Sports Complex for the Opening Ceremony. It is at this time that the PM's run in and do the famed "Stonehill Cheer" that are the inspirations for the titles of the posts. Nicole and I donned tiaras and a hat shaped like a baseball respectively. For the record, the whistle was a total bust.
After we all ran out, we stood around the Sports Complex with our signs and it was showtime. We met our groups and proceeded to spend some time with them, bring them to various presentations, and eat a boxed lunch on the quad. The time eventually winds around to dinner and everyone begins to prepare for PlayFair that night.
Inevitably, this is the conversation between a PM and an accepted student:
Student: What's PlayFair?
PM: Hmm...I can't really explain it.
Student: Why can't you tell us?
PM: It's hard to explain. It's kinda like a giant icebreaker. But fun! And active!
Student: (skeptical look)
PlayFair is best described as a three-ring circus that acts as a giant, non-awkward icebreaker. It is very active and you meet almost all the students at that session in about 2 hours. PM's usually have just as much fun as the students do. We usually work up a heavy sweat by the time the students get to it.
We all line up on the football field in two lines clapping, chanting, and just all around being loud. The students then must run through us like the starting lineups for a basketball team. 
After PlayFair, the skeptical looks turn to big smiles and exclaimations of "Wow, that actually was pretty cool."
When it is done, everyone goes to the Commons for some activities like Bingo and a dance. Yet again, the PM's seem to be the center of attention as each evening winds to a close with the playing of Don't Stop Believing and Piano Man. The seniors prepared ourselves for the sadness that would accompany these songs come Thursday night, during our last orientation. For now though, the mood was light and as we went to bed it became hard to believe it was only Monday still.
Tuesday came quite early. Though sad to say, it was almost like sleeping in. I awoke around 7am and met our group for breakfast. Tuesday is a lot less tiring of a day for the PM's as the incoming students are in meetings and presentations for much of the shortened day and we simply walk them from place to place for much of it.
After lunch, we have our last group time. This is always a fun one because after about 30 hours together, the students really open up and feel comfortable with each other. We usually play some games, reflect on orientation, and have some time to check out the bookstore!
At 3pm, the PM's line the steps to Donahue Hall as the students walk up the hill for the closing ceremony. Liz, our Orientation Coordinator, gives a little speech and each group presents a series of "We Are" statements that best sums up their group's characteristics. It was a pretty cool end. 
And with that, session one was done! The team retreated to the Commons to sprawl across the floor and go over what went right/wrong with the session. We moved it along quite quickly however, because, per tradition, we are treated to dinner at TownSpa, a local pizza joint.
Coming back to campus, some of the team went to hang out in a common room while others went to the Quad for some Capture the Flag. I tried the latter and got bored, so I headed in fairly quickly to see the rest of the team. My plans to get to bed early were easily forgotten as the midnight hour passed. After almost dozing off on the O'Hara Common Room floor, I summoned my strength and retreated to my room. But not before grabbing my comfy mattress-topper from my room!
Session 1 down, 1 more to go. But not before our day off and a much needed surprise...
To Be Continued.
No comments:
Post a Comment