Orientation (Again)

The season for orientations have begun. You would see people dressed with the same colour t-shirt (often bright and this year, a new trend of having a towel wrapped around their necks) wandering on the streets, some running some sweating some following. They would shout for seemingly no reason, do bizarre things that pass-byers cannot comprehend, but they know this is probably the only chance they can get to make friends, so they did it. I was one of them - two years ago.

I have nothing against orientations. Fact is, you do get to know more people. And I know the organisers have put in tremendous amount of efforts and plenty sleepless nights to make it happen, it's exhilarating.

But to those who are still out there trying to pack as many orientation days, camps or nights into your August, if you ever fear you won't be able to make friends without attending them, rest assure, orientations is just one of the many other means. There is much more in University life which opens you up to great people. It was true for me. In fact, 95% of the people I am closest to now (and probably for the rest of my life), were met during various coincidences outside the orientation period for the simple reason that I believe artificial groupings is foreign to our social skills. Orientations are often designed with the idea to create memories in mind. According to Cambridge Dictionary, this is "made by people, often as a copy of something natural", i.e. artificial.

It'd be scary at first, but have faith in yourself, you'd find the right ones very soon. Stay hungry, stay foolish.

BEA Orientation Day 2009.
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