Paying it Forward: The NSOA Experience

Whether you graduated from Eastern 20 years ago, or just began your college career in August, your first days at EMU were more than likely a whirlwind of information, figuring out schedules, trying to make new friends and a new home for the next four, five or six years.

Chances are you met a motivated upperclassman with relentless energy – a new student orientation assistant (or NSOA) – to help you transition into your new life as a student at Eastern Michigan University.

Listening to NSOAs speaks about their experience with electric energy and school-spirited fervor, it is easy to see why the program is such a success and students keep coming back.

Amber Pope is a two-time NSOA and a senior at EMU studying apparel, textiles and merchandising. She came to EMU from Milan (MI) because of the great education she knew she would receive. She became an NSOA because of her own experience in the program.

"Being an NSOA gives students the opportunity to interact with freshmen and guide them through their first experience at Eastern," Amber explained. "It helps freshmen to understand the importance of an education, but also the importance of having fun in the progress. It sets them up for success."

During the four days of orientation, NSOAs are assigned freshmen to help become better acquainted with their new environment, which for many means living away from home for the first time. Parts of the day-long schedules include playing ice-breakers, touring campus, attending seminars and orientation sessions, meeting staff and faculty while facilitating the social integration of the new generation of students. While these are the manifested responsibilities of the NSOA's, the students' commitment oftentimes takes them above and beyond.

"I liked that my NSOA really cared and was willing to help me past orientation," Amber said. "Your NSOA is really the first friend you meet on campus."

It was the same for Collin Dwarzki, 20, a junior arts management student.

"After going through orientation myself, I knew right away this is what I wanted to do," two-time NSOA Collin said. "I had a phenomenal NSOA whose impact on me encouraged me to participate."

Listening to Collin and Amber recount their experiences, the vigor and energy NSOAs are known for campus-wide becomes apparent. It makes you wonder if their open and engaging attitude is a requirement for, or a product of participation in new student orientation.
 
Katie Holdgreve-Resendez, the coordinator for orientation and transition programs calls it a contagious culture.

"The level of energy and motivation is hard to put into words," Katie said. "I haven't seen it in another group of people. It's awesome. This kind of energy comes from a true passion for the University and for making new students feel welcome."

According to Holdgreve-Resendez, around 180 students apply for the 130 NSOA positions, and the 30 percent retention rate of students returning to the program speaks volumes about the benefits of the program, both to incoming freshman and for NSOAs themselves.

"Over the 20 plus years of the program, it has become a true culture of its own. It's what people want to do and what they are dedicated to," Katie said.

NSOA training takes place immediately before freshmen arrive for orientation, meaning NSOAs are dedicated to cut their summers short to come back to EMU and help out.

"Training was all day for three days, 9 a.m. until 10 p.m. It was pretty intense," Amber said, recounting the innate amount of caffeine and energy drinks consumed by the NSOA students to get them through their demanding schedule. "After our last day of training, we wake up and get ready for our freshman."     

"You leave training energetic, nervous and anxious," Collin said of the training period that allows students to bond with emerging student leaders. "We call it the "NSOA high"."

Once the freshmen arrive, it is the responsibility of the NSOA to guide their group of about 25 students through the orientation schedule.

"They come in the fall to take care of all their business. Orientation is the first real opportunity to bond with people who they will share classes or residence halls and the next few years of their life with," Collin said.

Not surprisingly, many of the NSOAs remain connected to their groups after orientation is over.

"We still meet up to hang out or have lunch. It means a lot to just see them around campus and know that they have really become involved," Collin explained. "It's the biggest motivation to know that you have played a part in that."

"Some of my freshmen even applied to become NSOAs themselves – it makes me so proud," Amber said.

In fact, the recurring interest in becoming an NSOA may be the underlying factor for the group's continuing energy and momentum.

"When freshmen have positive experiences in their orientation group, they then want to become NSOAs themselves," Katie H.R. said. "It's a never-ending cycle of modeling and giving back."