ARE YOU LIVING WITH A STRANGER?

Oh my goodness, well I hope not! It’s been a MONTH since you moved in. Do you know your roommate? Like, do you know know your roommate? Have you gotten into a routine with your roommate? I hope the initial awkwardness is long gone.

Precious, what if I don’t have a roommate? Well, what about your suitemate? Maybe you only know they are in their room when you hear the water running…..nothing like those awkward moments when you accidently open the door. OOPS! But on a serious note, get to know your suitemate; your relationship is hopefully more than just “have they put in toilet paper?” and “when are they going to get out of the shower?”

DO YOU SIT NEXT TO A STRANGER?
I know that I do. In each of my classes I sit in the same seat, but never turn to talk to the person next to me because depending on the time of day I’m probably not in the mood to talk to them. With a school of about 36,000 students almost everyone is a stranger, but at the same time they could also be 36,000 new friends. In my last post I wrote about leaving your room to get more involved because it’s a great way to make new friends; but talking to the students next to you can lead to a whole new world of possibility.

HAVE YOUR PARENTS BECOME STRANGERS?
I became a stranger to my parents. It was maybe three weeks after Sunday Fun Day that I went home. Between the time that I moved in and the day I went home I had gotten a second ear piercing (GASP!). I didn’t think it was a big deal; however, when my parents saw me they claimed that they didn’t even recognize me. They were convinced that in the weeks to follow, I’d be covered with tattoos and piercings before my next visit home. The daughter that they had dropped off was gone and a stranger had taken away the girl they loved. This is a relatively extreme case, parents care (Well, duh!). But especially when we are freshmen. That’s why they text, call, and send care packages (granted my parents live 30 minutes away and I never got a care package), but still they want you to remain an active part of their lives. Trust me it’s about a relationship that’s only going to get stronger after time.

Here are some simple steps in helping a make a stranger a friend:
1- Smile
2- Introduce yourself
3- Shake their hand
4- Smile some more
5- Awkwardly laugh
6- Talk about something vague
7- Awkwardly laugh again

I’m off looking for ways to help y’all put the U in UNT,
- Precious

p.s. the next blog will be about BECOMING AN ORIENTATION LEADER! :)

p.p.s. if you have questions and need any advice, you should email me, and I’ll help you to the best of my ability! Who knows, maybe your question will inspire the next post! :D

Hello? Hello, is this thing on?

Hello? Hello, is this thing on?

Hello! My name is Precious Femi-Ogunyemi and I am the student assistant for Freshman Programs at UNT. For all you freshmen out there, who went to orientation, do you remember the LOUD HAPPY always EXCITED orientation leader? Yup, that was me. I was that Orientation leader. (:

But I am so excited to make this blog for y’all.

Look to your left; now look to your right. You are probably sitting in your dorm, munching on some Cheez-its, reading this blog, recalling your time at orientation. Well I was just like you when I was a freshman, but then I did something that would change my life: I LEFT MY ROOM.

That’s right, I left my room, and walked down to the lobby where I saw some people tie-dying. I recognized some of the residents there because I had seen them in the lobby; I soon found out that the organization that put on the tie-dying event was the Hall Association. After talking with the president for a few minutes, she told me about all the programs going on with the Maple Street Hall Association, MSHA. In the weeks that followed I went to the events that MSHA hosted, and I had fun. 

But that was just one way that I chose to get involved. 

There are so many ways!

·         Intramurals: Each hall has a team and you don’t even have to be good at the sport. Cheering on your friends is just as fun as playing in the game. (I was an AMAZING cheerleader for Maple).

·         Organizations: There’s over 350 clubs on campus. Let me repeat. 350 clubs on campus! There’s one for everyone. We have a Student Government Association, African Student Organization, Engineers Without Borders, College Democrats, and so many more!

·         Large Campus Activities: Library Mall + University Union = Best Place on Campus.  I’m not one to exaggerate the truth, but it seems that not a day goes by where something isn’t happening in the Union or the Library Mall. Events that are held at these locations are guaranteed to be poppin’ because they are trying to get the attention of the ENTIRE University! These events include Carnaval, Salsa Night, and Union Gallery Exhibits, just to name a few.

·         Sports: UNT has a growing MEAN GREEN Athletic program, and our players need your support! The rush and excitement that one feels as a part of the crowd is incomparable! I remember my first football game; I was in a state of DELIGHT. IT WAS AN AMAZING FEELING.

·         Denton: Maybe you’re more interested in what Denton has to offer? Denton thrives as more than just a college town. We’ve got restaurants being built all over the place, and for those interested in a lively music scene, Denton has been compared to one of the top music capitals of the world: Austin.  Where Austin offers Austin City Limits (ACL), Denton offers the large street music festival just off the Square, 35 Denton (NX35).

This is going to be such an amazing year. But it all starts with you, right here, right now, taking a step outside of your dorm room…getting on the campus. Because getting on the campus is the first step to getting involved. 

See you soon?





Photo credit: Brian Maschino

  

-Precious