Spiders find community and connection during move-in and orientation
Student Experience
The first week of the academic year is a special time on any campus, but at Richmond, that week of moving in and orientation comes with extra energy.
Patrick Benner, senior director for Campus Life, calls move-in “our Super Bowl” — a chance for the community to shine and welcome all the new students, families, and student supporters to campus. “It’s nothing short of exciting,” he said.
That spirit comes to life thanks to the residential and orientation advisors who spent weeks preparing to greet new and returning students. “Orientation is full of information sessions, but it’s also a lot of fun,” Benner said.
Programs that are part of the Weeks of Welcome add even more buzz to campus, giving first-year students opportunities to get involved and start building connections.
Sage advice from resident advisors
Grace Brown, head resident of Marsh Hall, encourages everyone to dive in. “Do stuff,” she said. For first-years, attending events is especially important “because that’s how you’ll find your community at college,” said Brown, a senior double major in global studies and Russian studies.
Amara Thohan, head resident of North Court, echoed that message: “Build your web! Join student organizations, see your professors outside of class, and make relationships with your classmates, hallmates, and RAs.”
Brown also reminded returning students not to get too comfortable. “Even if you've been at college for a bit, there are still new people to meet, new clubs to join, and new memories to make.”
Nolan Stankewich, a resident assistant in Gray Court, agreed that trying new things is key, while also encouraging students to bring along passions from home. “Richmond, for many of us, is a new home, which means we have to make it feel like we belong here,” said Stankewich. “If you loved doing community service or playing an instrument at home, find a club or organization to keep those passions running here. Just because you're evolving into a new form of yourself every day doesn't mean you should leave behind the best parts of your life before college.”
Thohan, a senior biology major with a health studies minor, added, “Take advantage of everything Richmond has to offer in the time that you are here.”
Balancing those opportunities with academics is equally important, said Dani Martinez, an RA in Marsh Hall. “Make sure that you can balance your social life and academic life so you can make the most out of this once-in-a-lifetime experience.” The sophomore political science major encouraged students “to try to do every assignment ahead of time because deadlines come faster than you expect.”
Through all their advice, the RAs emphasized that what makes Richmond unique is its people. “The people make the place,” Thohan said.
Brown agreed. “I love having my close friends at UR to go through the exciting and mundane parts of life with. UR is where a lot of my people are, so I'm just happy to be back with them.”
For Stankewich, those friendships are at the heart of the Richmond experience. “I have met so many amazing people at Richmond, and I am so excited to feed the flames of those friendships and even kindle new ones,” said Stankewich, a sophomore double major in business administration and leadership studies. “There are so many opportunities in college to connect with new people and acquire new perspectives on every topic. I challenge every student to go out of their way to meet new people.”
For those unsure of where to start meeting people, Stankewich offered a lighthearted tip. “The secret answer to this question is the egg line for breakfast every day (shhh).”