2020 Hindsight: New Student Disorientation

There was some confusion in our house on the 236th day of 2020.  That is because 8/23/2020 is the eve of Alexa's New Student Orientation at Penn.  She was supposed to have moved in to Lauder College House today, but the pandemic scrapped all of our plans (Thanks, COVID!  NOT!)  And so Orientation starts tomorrow and none of us are exactly sure what needs to be done and when.  What is Mandatory, what is mandatory, what is suggested, optional, or not needed.  And, frankly, no incoming student really knows these things on the first day.  Students are typically guided through NSO by the College House Staff: House Deans, Faculty, RAs, GAs, etc.  And, since her College House is 18 W Beechwood Ave. this Fall, Sarah and I are these resources, except we missed training (I think we were too busy dealing with life!)  My 2020 Hindsight is New Student Disorientation.  It's natural, we cannot worry, everything is new and of course nobody has an idea of exactly what to do.  She'll figure it out, all college students do.  And we just need to let her independently do so.  A lot easier to do when she's on campus and we're clueless as to what we don't know.  Tonight, we know what we don't know and we need to know that is OK.  Woosah!

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