Welcome Week was… Interesting, to say the least.
Many students have come from as close as Decatur itself to as far as the other side of the world to Millikin University. Welcome Week was their first impression. Being shoved into required events anywhere from a mere few hours of moving in to a few days of events is anything from confusing to straight-up harrowing.
And eventful Welcome Week most definitely was. There was close to no breathing room until near sunset, and even then, there was always at least one more thing every night.
While I felt immediately overwhelmed, I can’t imagine how awful that must have been for international students. You’re exhausted, maybe from jet lag or the culture shock from this place. Then you realize in horror that these people are not going to let you breathe.
It is frankly disconcerting to come from so far to a university expecting high standards and getting slapped in the face with immediately subpar organization. In addition, there were unknown consequences for not attending said mandatory events. So, not only are we in unfamiliar territory, but we are being bombarded with things to do with little time to orient ourselves, as well.
The biggest issue with this arrangement is that no one could tell which event was required unless their S.E.A.s or nearby faculty knew. In fact, I’m not sure if most students were even aware that they could access the Welcome Week schedule on the school’s website. One of the S.E.A.s even told me I would have more free time when classes started. Given the general standard of university workloads, that is not a good first impression. Another issue is that the school website doesn’t even show which events are compulsory. People could be choosing not to attend events that may be required due to being unaware, making them miss out on important information.
In the end, the events were fun! I didn’t think I’d make so many friends already, and I have Welcome Week and its organizers to thank. However, this could have been organized to better ensure everyone’s well-being while they adjust. I hope it will be better for next year’s freshmen if they make it annual.
