Serving as an Orientation Leader for Virginia Tech’s First-Year Orientation was an experience defined by numbers: calling ourselves 2OL5, serving VT ’19, reaching 6,107 new students, 13 Orientation sessions, 30 student leaders working, sporting 2 orange & maroon polos, living off of 2 cups of ABP tea/coffee a day, doing 6 hilarious University Life skits, facilitating 3 small group sessions daily, always remembering it’s a “Day 1” experience, getting 4 or 5 hours of sleep a night, having at least 3 plates at D2 a night, cheering our individual Orientation Leader group numbers (for me, it’s 8), and having the daily determination of reaching “93“.

This summer’s experience of working along 32 of the best people I’ve ever known was nothing short of phenomenal. We spent just over a month at each other’s sides through some of the most challenging days I’ve ever faced. Our days started at 6:10 a.m. and didn’t end until around 12 or 12:15 a.m. (with multiple breaks in the day). Every single day we had a new group of students and families to help feel welcome and excited about their new journeys as Hokies. We answered questions and gave personal advice to our students, became a friend, mentor and resource to them for their upcoming year(s), and had an all-around great day with them while trying to make an impact on their lives. Sounds simple, right?

At the end of the day, it was our job to make them feel welcome. That, in itself, is simple. Going through the days was a blast because honestly, what we had to do- spreading Virginia Tech spirit and helping people get excited about their time at VT- is the best job you could ever ask a Hokie to do. Sometimes I’d tear up in my groups about something I talked about because I love it so much here, whether that be the Ohio State game coming up or about how I had an incredibly tough semester last spring but the people here helped me and changed my life and perspective. So the job of an OL is simple and fun. You got that?

But, let’s turn the table a little bit. It was difficult. Being so consistent every day with each group of students, but adapting to their needs and personalities wasn’t the easiest thing to do, but it was definitely something that added so much to the role and experience. Functioning on very little sleep but needing to keep the energy up on Day 1.13 as much as it was on Day 1.1 was very hard. And trying to capture how incredible Virginia Tech is in only a few hours to 15-25 students, as well as making an positive impact on them in the slightest bit, kind of seems/seemed impossible.

But beyond the fun, simple, and difficult, my experience as an OL was phenomenal. Here’s why:

• The Virginia Tech Class of 2019 is remarkable. Getting to meet over 270 students in my group over 3 weeks and hearing their stories touched my heart. And being a part of their Hokie journey means the world to me. I will always have so much pride for my group, my students, and will always be here for them. My friend and fellow OL, Tara Shockley, said it best at one of our team meetings when she said “I came into this knowing I would impact students. But I didn’t realize how much they would impact me.”
• The Orientation Team (including our Orientation Assistants, Orientation Leaders, 2 marvelous interns and 1 pretty awesome Assistant Director for New Student and Family Programs) was the best group of people I’ve ever worked with. Every single day we encouraged and supported one another, got each other “hype”, made each other laugh SO hard, talked about strange things that put smiles on all of our faces, and became best friends more and more. I couldn’t admire nor appreciate any of those individuals more. They embrace everything that Virginia Tech aims for its students to be and make our university and world a better place.
• Virginia Tech speaks for itself. Everything that it stands for is about making a student a better person. Each day I told my students I wanted them to come away with one thing: Virginia Tech is more than an academic institution where you’ll just come to class. This place changes people and encourages them to become better every day. We embrace our school motto, Ut Prosim, which means “That I May Serve.” Sure, there are lots of pretty buildings and places on campus, but our Hokie community is full of beautiful people, and the VT Class of 2019 is sure to understand that in a few weeks.
• We got to meet hundreds of people every day. And learning that just putting a smile on can impact someone’s day and feelings on our university was life-changing. I’ll never hesitate to wear a smile from here on out.
• Learning about myself and my faith throughout this journey was incredibly rewarding. Understanding how important it is to trust myself and what my limits are but also how I work and rely on others is something I’ll take with me wherever I go.

Orientation helped me re-fall in love with Virginia Tech. I’ll never forget this summer nor will I forget what I learned and how the people I met/worked with impacted me. The countable things truly made the experience what it was, but what was in between, or the “uncountable”, that really made it phenomenal.

Thank you, Virginia Tech Class of 2019, for allowing me to be a part of your Hokie journeys. Make it everything you want it to be and more. You couldn’t be coming to a better place or joining a stronger, more incredible community.

And thank you, 2OL5, for being 32 of my newest best friends. I love you, and I know VT19 does too. Thanks for being the best Hokies out there.

With maroon & orange love,

Elizabeth “Brown Cows Don’t Make Chocolate Milk” Galbreath, #8