<p>i've heard from everyone [and it is kinda obvious] that the first day/night must be the worst because you barley know anyone...and that orientation is really awkward.
i've been wondering if that was true...and what types of things you do at orientation?
and also if it is hard the first night being alone at a school</p>
<p>To be honest my first night at school and orientation were pretty high up on the list of funnest nights at Groton. First of all, after we have our tour for orientation and get our books we play a massive game of Harry Potter "Capture the Golden Snitch" scavenger hunt. A senior dresses up like a bumble bee and flys around trying not to get in to anyones picture. While you are trying to find the snitch you go to different stations, which you find by clues, and play games. It started to rain during my orientation and the girl next to me had a white shirt on. I lent her my sweatshirt, and then we switched back and forth. She ended up being one of my best friends.
The first night is even more fun. Play some music, nobody knows anyone anyways, so get together in a big meeting place. Play some music, get the boys invovled and get to know people. The way my schools sets things up (we, as a class, went to the headmasters house, ate cookies and milk and played ping pong after dinner.) By the end of the night you are best friends with everyone even if you only remember 1 name</p>
<p>How do you avoid that awkwardness, but not get stuck with people you don't really want to be friends with? Does that even happen?</p>
<p>sailor_chica:</p>
<p>not everyone's orientation/first night experience is quite as transcdendant as NEPrep's was (although we can all hope that it will be! :)). </p>
<p>The thing I think you should know is that, even if the first night isn't your best night ever, it doesn't mean that your days at boarding school are destined to be filled with loneliness, confusion and homesickness. For some kids (and not just the terminally awkward ones) it takes a bit more time to adjust, but there is time for that and you can still go on to form the close friendships and have all the fun that NEPrep describes.</p>
<p>I guess that's my answer to Sportincourty's question also...your groups of friends will change over time. Just because you make friends with someone in the first days does not mean that you will have to be always in each other's company for the next 4 years. </p>
<p>I think all of you first-timers will find that there is a fluidity to friendships at boarding school. Cliques, while they do exist, are not quite as rigid as they are in other environments, and friendships ebb and flow over time.</p>
<p>I guess my post made it seem like the friends that I made on the first night INSTANTLY became my best friends, and that things weren't awkward at all.
I was extremely nervous during orientation and probably didn't say a word to anyone. Except the sweatshirt girl. But I mean, how can you not have fun playing a giant harry potter game. Then after that the school shoved us into a room with milk and cookies and a bunch of multi player games. It is just kids nature to want to play those games. The guys go off and play ping pong, the girls off to play "apples to apples" Then kids start mixing, you learn peoples names, and realize that everyone is uber nervous and you kind of laugh at the way you acted during "that super cool orientation that I wish would happen everyday"
And by the end of the night when you return to your dorm, you know a couple kids names, you hang out with those kids, who know other kids names and it all just swings back in full circle. I think a lot of kids become nervous thinking that THEY won't make friends and that THEY will be lonely. But no one ever stops to think that EVERYONE is going through the adjustment of a new school, new peers, a new room, new everything.
So just be open to new things the first day and try to meet a ton of people.</p>
<p>Here's my 2 cents: Smile a lot, be super nice to everyone you meet, don't rule anyone out or judge on first impressions. And a year from now, look back and you'll be surprised how your impressions will have changed about many people you met those first few days. Living with people 24/7 will give you insights into people that you most likely haven't experienced before. They'll be some pleasant surprises and some... well, not so much. Please keep an open mind. These schools are very small communities so it is best to not alienate anyone.</p>
<p>I can't wait!!!!!
Does anyone know more about choate's first day?</p>
<p>:)
Peace.</p>
<p>NEprepgoer... wow! your orientation sounds awesome... I love Harry Potter, and Groton is high on my list of BS's. that just really boosts it up... wow, that sounds really good. was that eighth grade? and I have anotheer question-- di you ever feel that Groton was too small, because that is my only concern with it. thanks!</p>
<p>wickedcrazy- The Harry potter orientation is for 8th,9th and 10th graders because those are the grades that receive new students. As an 11th and 12th grader you become the characters=]
I personally never feel that Groton is too small. I love the fact that I know everyone on campus and that I have relationships with everyone on campus. I think that it really is just what you are looking for. Groton is a really tight-knit community more than a school</p>
<p>I'm soo excited for orientation. At NMH you going camping on the Northfield campus with the whole freshman class. From what I've heard from current students, it's a blast.</p>
<p>im scared for the first day...
only because im going in as a sophomore,
and im afraid ill be left out because all the girls in my grade will already have their little circles of friends and they wouldnt want to give a new kid the time of day...
at the same time,
about half the class comes in a sophomores,
so i know a lot of other kids will be in the same boat as me...</p>
<p>dont worry!</p>
<p>dont worry, dont be sad, everythings gonna work out
thats all i have to say haha
Peace. :)</p>