Frosh week is both exhilarating and intimidating. It goes under many aliases—Orientation, O-Week, and even 101 Week (if you’re University of Ottawa).
Typically held on the first week of school, frosh week is a time of grand celebration, used by universities everywhere to make the fresh-faced undergrads of the world feel more comfortable with their impending university lives. Most schools have standard, seven-day orientation weeks, but a few institutions have special ways of presenting their frosh weeks. For instance, University of Guelph has created a custom in which students dance on the school’s football field. On the flip side, Queen’s University keeps their frosh week “completely optional and confidential.” It’s all super hush-hush and top secret and stuff. Either way, no matter what institution you attend, frosh will seep into your life one way or the other.
“I can see it now: a barrage of excitable teenagers hollering at B-movie actors and students getting hypnotized into taking their pants off and running around campus.”
I, myself, will be heading to Ryerson this September. They have dubbed this year’s orientation week as “Rise 2014,” an inspiring name with an equally inspiring logo to go along with it. Not to mention that it’s cleverly alliterated with the word “Ryerson.”
From many accounts that I’ve gathered on forums and social media, frosh week is the best way to make friends on campus, but it also entails a bunch of fun activities pertaining to games, humour, music, student life, and community. Looking at Ryerson’s events list, there are going to be plenty of pep rallies, sports matches, and panels on university living. But then there are random events like “Cheesy Movie Night,” “Karaoke at the Ram,” “The Incredible Boris Hypnotist Show,” and “Fiesta del Fuego.”
Somehow, it’s events like these that appeal to me the most. I can see it now: a barrage of excitable teenagers hollering at B-movie actors, poorly-sung covers of old Cascada songs, and students getting hypnotized into taking their pants off and running around campus. If that isn’t exciting, then I don’t know what is. So, in light of the fact that it’s July (meaning that September will roll around far quicker than expected), I’m already preparing for the frosh activities that interest me the most.
Being somewhat introverted, I’ll probably need to harness a whole week’s worth of energy over the summer just so I can unleash it during Rise 2014. But it’ll probably be worth it when I’m stuffing my face with a two-dollar BBQ lunch while paying a visit to an illusionist. And kicking ass on trivia night. And trying to be the holder of a new Guinness World Record. All of those things can be done during O-Week at Ryerson, and I hope that all of your universities and colleges offer the same excitement during your frosh week!
ED. NOTE: Are you going to Frosh Week this fall? If so, what school and what are you looking forward to the most?
Photo courtesy: Laurier Student Union
