Being chosen to be a PA was the best thing that has happened to me so far at Northwestern.
When I came in as a freshman just a year ago, I was so intimidated and anxious about my first encounters at NU. I didn't really know much about what orientation would entail, but I did realize that it would consume an entire week of my life. How was i supposed to bond with people? Who would help me learn the campus?
The idea of a "Peer Adviser" was very foreign to me. Not many schools have people that lead you around for an entire week until you feel completely comfortable with the environment you're in. And I had no idea how much of an impact my PAs would have on me after just one week.
My PA group quickly became my go-to rock; my group of friends that I knew would always be there for me - even after Wildcat Welcome was over. The week flew by and some of my greatest memories of last year still remain in that time period. My PAs immediately made a huge impact on my time at NU and I knew that I had to at least apply to be a PA. I knew it was pretty much a shot in the dark, so I prepared myself for the let-down. But deep down, I wondered every night if I had made enough of an impact during my interview to convince the Board that I could effectively have an impact on a group of new students this year.
When I found out that I got the position, I started crying. I remember being in a doctor's office waiting room and getting the call. Everyone was staring at me as I was sitting there, sick and in tears. It was one of the happiest moments I've had at NU so far and I'll never forget that feeling.
After that, spring training for PAs began. I got put into an awesome training group (or Board Groups, as we call them) and couldn't wait to train more in the fall. I immediately bonded with my fellow PAs and knew that I was in for an awesome time with them.
After four intense, long, and extremely-exhausting days, I can finally say that I'll be meeting my new students tomorrow. Training made me remember why I wanted to become a PA in the first place. I made so many new and awesome friends in the process, and can honestly say that it was the best experience I've had here so far. It's unexplainable. The feelings I felt were real, and that's what really made me realize what a truly amazing program this is.
The day has finally come when I get to be on the other side of Wildcat Welcome - I get to show my students why I love Northwestern so much. I get to make their first experiences here great. I get to shape the memories that they will always have of their first days at NU. It's such a surreal experience, and I really do hope that I make an impact on the students I meet in the next eight days.
To anyone in the class of 2017 that may see this before move-in tomorrow or even sometime during this coming week: I hope your Wildcat Welcome experience is truly amazing and everything you had hoped it would be. I hope you feel welcomed and safe here and that you realize that yes, you made the right choice.
