College of William and Mary - Colonial Echo Yearbook (Williamsburg, VA)

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I LHeading for the 'burg It started with a letter in August - I'We are looking forward very much to your arrival on campus and are anxious to begin what we hope will be a most rewarding year. To ome, this came as a welcome relief rom a summer of waitressing, con- struction work, or simple boredom, to thers, the IIweIcome-back-to- ampus letter, with its health insur- nce forms and visions of validation, . ignalled the end of luxurious summer reedom. And for freshmen, that letter brought excitement edged with all -cinds of fears. The trek to Williamsburg, whether 'for the first for the Iastlj time, had its mherent hassles. There was always a feeling of helplessness when, after ragging suitcases, boxes, fans, plants, nd pillows up three flights of stairs, :he realization came that someone had .o unpack it all. And parents always lin- ered a little too long in freshmen hall- ays, while their sons and daughters idgeted nervously, awaiting the mo- 'nent when they would, finally, be on heir own. But homesickness for the freshman was almost universal, whether it struck t odd, isolated moments or was a onstant companion in the first weeks. he pressures of the initial days were wimense: registration, the lines at the I 1i,. . --Y- bookstore faching arms and a sore checkbookl, getting to know the campus lwhich seemed hopelessly un- knowablej, shopping for plants and hooks and Raid and memo boards and extension cords, paying room damage deposits and dorm dues, establishing a checking account, getting to know the Greek system . . . all while maintaining one's sense of identity and belonging. The social life was equally overwhelm- ing, According to one Dupont resident, IIThe first week - the first month real- ly - all we did was have parties on top of parties. In eight days we had seven parties! Another freshman add- ed, UAfter two weeks, I had met so many people that I felt I didn't know anybody. Most freshmen thought that their RA's and OA's were critical in making them feel at home. Rob Bryant, from Cortland, VA., dubbed orientation Uthe most confusing time l've ever spent in my life, but emphasized that his RA had Ilreally gone out of his way to help him. Laurie Searls, an OA for Bar- rett Znd East, mentioned the impor- tance of building friendship and confi- dence among the girls: I think it's really important to get to know the people you're going to live with imme- diateIy. Orientation and hall activities Somehow the sun lessens the pain of returning to books in the fall, and Yates is a prime spot for sun worshipping. aking its way around the Hall, the line at vali- tion frustrated those anxious to straighten out eir tangled schedules, I I Gearing Up X19

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L ill 'Gearing Up Heading for the 'burgg smoothed over the bumps of the first! weeks. This year, fewer OA's weret- employed, and activities for the wholei hall were coordinated by an OA!RAi team. Orientation included campus and-l library tours, bus route trips, meals to- gether at the Caf, study breaks with' popcorn or S'mores, beer sessions atl the Pub, Dirty Deli, or Chownings, pic-- nics, and numerous hall parties. One- girl recalled that it was a shock when ll realized I had to start going to cIasses. ' Academic pressures, while felt by' everyone, were a surprise to many' freshmen after high school. Asked one' girl, l'What do you do when you've al-A ways gotten A's and B's without open- ing a book, and then you come here? A big shock to most was the l'moun-- tain of reading. Most felt that the! work was more than they had expect- ed, but that they could adjust. Socially, W 84 M was a more agree-+ able change for many, like Yates resi-- dent Missy Cornwell, who Uexpectedl the school to be pretty stiff socially,, but . . . was pleasantly surprised. An-4 other student concluded that there'sf more than anyone could attempt to doi - there's always something going on. I could really use a 48-hour day! The art of thumper finds RA Lisa Wong at the Wig, initrating the girls from Yates Pits.