<p>So Thurgood Marshall Orientation is finally over. Meh. I personally thought it was quite unremarkable; if it could be given a grade I'd give it a B- or C+. </p>
<p>The morning information sessions were largely information that we had already been given and held accountable for knowing. The speakers were boring, ESPECIALLY the monotonous Provost. (Call me picky and/or having unrealistic expectations, which may be a true evaluation of me, but I must vent about one of his superficial praise remarks, "some of you may actually end up as leaders, and a small few of you may even end up as mayors of a small town!" I didn't like this at all. I acknowledge he definitely didn't have the intention of underestimating us at all, but he unwittingly definitely did with that remark. It's seemingly as if UCSD [to him] is comparatively only a 'good' school and not a 'great' one, on the basis of that remark. What, if it was Berkeley or Stanford would it be "some of you may go on to be a Senator or Governor"? Though again I do leave room for the possibility that I'm being too harsh. The point is I'm delighted to be at UCSD {my first choice} and believe that many graduates will be brilliant, enough to invent new professions. (I hear some laughs in the background, no worries.) </p>
<p>-The "lonely transfer kid" video definitely was funny and significant, BUT overall unfair. My concern is that many students will feel insecure if they find themselves eating alone on campus and studying alone on campus. What now might not be realized (and innocently so) is the truth that it is perfectly okay to walk eat alone on campus and study alone on campus. Just ask the several you'll see doing that on campus throughout this entire academic year. I didn't like how this video inevitably made a social construction of the view that "if you find yourself doing many things alone, such as eating, walking, and studying alone on campus, then that means you're anti-social and may likely be in need of help -- so come into our office and we will connect you with a fellow loner who, when all became miserable, cried out to us for free support! Thank goodness he made the right move."
-The technical difficulties: On a minor note, and wasn't it kind of disappointing how there were technical glitches with the sound system and video for the presentations? It seems like they didn't rehearse a lot of the stuff beforehand, which translates to them not having been prepared for us. I kind of feel as if a lot of the staff treated us simply as a "to-do event on the calendar" and weren't actually excited to have us there. Again I may be being unnecessarily coarse.
-Orientation group: Mine was pretty lame, though there was a fair share of fun had throughout the walking and group talks. Of course much of the talk was superficial (though wasn't that to be expected?) and during lunch, it got awkward after 30 minutes because my table of 6 stopped talking. One guy actually had brought an outside companion from a different school to keep him company throughout the entire group activities; this companion tagged along his side the entire time in our group of incoming UCSD students. I actually thought this was insecure/slightly inappropriate of him. Whatever though, who am I to judge.
-Based on all the interactions I experienced with my group, I don't think anyone will remember each other's name after one week from now. After the last event finished, with the group gathered together, everyone then just dispersed went their own ways. </p>
<p>-I'm glad we didn't have to do any of those stupid "Ice breaker" activities that often involve singing and/or touching others. I think those are reserved for the Freshmen orientations. And rightly so.
-The Orientation leaders weren't that articulate to me. Mine got annoyed because one time I asked two-three questions consecutively. They were at least a little bit helpful though. I find that most of everything we need to know is available online.<br>
-I thought it was strategic to disburse the campus IDs out at the very end, I didn't mind waiting for it. </p>
<p>So now you share your Transfer Orientation experience. What did you like, and dislike about it? Did you feel it was worth the $83 you/your parents paid for it? Feel free to share any other thoughts.</p>
Lol im a freshamn, ugh the “icebreakers” shall ruin this day lol</p>
I hated them. During the very first icebreaker I started to introduce myself and the OL snaps at me, “You need to speak louder. Do you think anyone can hear you?” It’s not exactly my fault they decided to hold an icebreaker right next to two other groups with other groups still walking past…I definitely didn’t feel welcome by the OLs at my orientation.</p>
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