<p>I was wondering how important it was to be there for the entire orientation. When I read about it, it sounds like you wouldn’t want to miss a minute. The problem is, it starts on a Friday at noon (and runs for 5 days), and right now it looks like my son might not be able to get there until Sunday evening, perhaps one day earlier if he’s lucky. It kills me that he could miss so much of it, but he has a very important obligation that would involve letting kids down. He had no idea of what school he’d be attending, or accepted to, when he made the commitment. I’d rather him do the orientation, but it’s his call.</p>
<p>I asked my D about this. She said he will most likely feel very out of it if he arrives a few days late. He might feel like everyone has made friends and he doesn’t have any. </p>
<p>But she also said that that would soon change. People obviousely start to find people they mesh with as the semester goes on. As she said, " It’s only 5 days out of 4 years."</p>
<p>And, as she also said, it depends on his personality. If he is a very gregarious person, it will be easier to come late. If he is an introvert, he might feel more uncomfortable.</p>
<p>Thanks, morrismm. I’m trying hard to figure out a way he can do this without disappointing anyone. He’s pretty outgoing, but it seems there is some serious bonding going on at first.</p>
<p>I would HIGHLY recommend he does not miss it. I had to make the same decision last year (i worked at a day camp and had to miss the last day of camp, which caused me to not get asked back the following summer). It’s important that he’s on the same page as everyone else. Other than the morons that ran the camp i worked at, no one should question his necessity to move into college for orientation.</p>
<p>He is a camp counselor also, and he can’t just leave and have someone take over his cabin the last 3 days. They are already short of male counselors. It’s not that they won’t let him, but he feels that he is letting the kids down. I suggested that maybe he just not work that entire week, start a week early instead, and come in for the first 4 days and volunteer. I know it sounds trivial, but it is Harry Potter week, it is a sold out session…and he is Harry. Some kids really believe he is, and he can’t just abandon them in the middle of the session. But he could be a volunteer worker so they don’t depend on him to be in charge. I’ll bet the kids could buy that even wizards have to go away to college. I hope he takes my suggestion.</p>
<p>Well, sure, where else would Harry go after Hogwarts? Bucknell, of course!!</p>
<p>I think it’s great that your son doesn’t want to disappoint the kids. Sounds like you raised a terrific son.</p>
<p>^^Good one, benreb, Bucknell even has a club called Dumbledore’s Army! I think Bucknell reminds him of the camp that he’s been going to/working at for several years, actually. The YMCA camp is like a perfect environment, a place where people are incredibly happy and nice. It is always the best time of his life. Bucknell seems like the same sort of place, at least that is the illusion, which I think appealed to all of us. Thank you for the complement, he is deeply attached to his kids and coworkers.</p>