Orientation Committee (O’Comm) and Orientation Group Leaders (OGLs) play a crucial role in welcoming first-year students to the Yale-NUS community by conceptualising and implementing events that build community.
“What I wanted by being an OGL was to: 1. be a part of creating the YNC community 2. to have fun, and 3. to be able to lend a helping hand and ear to the first-years. Despite coming into orientation with a high expectation, the actual event far exceeded it. I realized that orientation is a lot more than just making friends and being accustomed to a new environment, it is the prime time when first-years begin forming their identity as members of Yale-NUS. I first-handedly saw how the simple words and actions of OGLs and O’Comm members easily influenced the mindset of the incoming class. Instead of fostering exclusive RC pride and competition, we played a pivotal role in demonstrating how each one of us have our RC pride but more importantly, we are united as a larger community of YNC. This taught me that we carry bigger responsibilities than previously expected – student leaders greatly influence the fostering of the school community and spirit. All in all, it was thrilling to be part of forming the new part of YNC community and I have loved every single moment of orientation despite all the hard work (physical and emotional). I will forever treasure these memories and the valuable new friendships I was able to make with staff, upperclassmen, and first-years.”
Applications for O’Comm open every year in January, and for OGLs in March