Orientation leaders are among the many friendly faces who welcome new students to Syracuse University. They are a ready resource and a guide to all things Orange.
We put some questions to a few of them about what it’s like to come back to campus after a summer away and the Syracuse Welcome experience through the Office of First Year and Transfer Programs.
Stephann Dubois ’15, of Port-au-Prince, Haiti
Major: Computer Science
Stephann Dubois
Q: What’s one of your favorite things to do when you come back to campus after being away for the summer?
A: One my favorite things to do when I arrive on campus is to connect with new orientation leaders. After being away all summer, it gives me the chance to really get to know them.
Q: What’s the best part about being an orientation leader?
A: The best part about being an orientation leader is the impact you have on incoming students. The reward comes when a student or a parent approaches me and thanks me for sharing my story or making their transition to SU smooth.
Q: What do you want students to take away from the Syracuse Welcome experience?
A: I would like students to get out of their comfort zone and really experience what the University has to offer. I really think that’s the only way to have an amazing journey here.
Regina King ’15, of Elmont, N.Y.
Major: Supply Chain/Finance
Regina King biking in Xi’an, China
Q: What’s one of your favorite things to do when you come back to campus after being away for the summer?
A: I like to just re-orient myself with the campus, whether it be chilling on the Quad and getting the first (and last) days of sun or heading to Whitman and catching up with the ladies in the office.
Q: What’s the best part about being an orientation leader?
A: Watching the moment when a first-year student goes from fear to school pride. You can see it in their eyes; they stop being worried about washing their own clothes and getting to classes on time and they start their first “Let’s Go Orange” cheer—it is truly amazing.
Q: What do you want students to take away from the Syracuse Welcome experience?
A: While you don’t have to make your best friends in the first week of school or find that club that you love, I want students to feel that they can spend the next four years here and with some help they can be truly happy.
Melanie Konstant ’16, of Derry, N.H.
Major: Public Health/Policy Studies
Melanie Konstant
Q: What’s one of your favorite things to do when you come back to campus after being away for the summer?
A: I love catching up with all my friends once I get back to campus in the fall. Everyone always has such different summer experiences to share, whether they went abroad, had an internship, or worked a summer job. It’s so great to hear what people have been up to.
Q: What’s the best part about being an orientation leader?
A: This will be my first year as an orientation leader but I am excited to learn about Syracuse University. There are so many different programs and activities to do here on the SU campus and I can’t wait to learn all about them and share them with the incoming students.
Q: What do you want students to take away from the Syracuse Welcome experience?
A: I would like to see students already taking an interest in student organizations. The best part of the University is how much it has to offer and I would love to see students who are eager to get involved and immersed into college life.
