O-Week Survival Guide for an Introverted Mountie

Author: Olivia Hart
Posted on July 6, 2022

As an incoming student, O-Week is one of the most important events of your first-year experience. This is the time when there is a lot happening both on and off campus, and you get to meet new people, some of whom might become your best friends for the next four years. During O-Week, you will experience a lot of firsts—first meal at Jennings, first “hey, my name is ____, can I sit here?” and likely, your first ultimate karaoke barbecue dance battle (unless for some reason you have previously participated in this very niche event somewhere else, in which case—kudos to you). While this is certainly an exciting time, and one that I hope you will look back upon fondly, it can also be a time of nerves. Some people can easily jump right into the chaos and feed off the energy of their peers; making friends and putting themselves out there comes naturally to them. For others, the buzz around O-Week can be anxiety-inducing or amplify some of the worries already present as a result of transitioning to university life. While I find myself at different points on the introvert/extrovert spectrum at various times, there were times when I definitely fell into the latter category during my first year. I felt overwhelmed by it all and desperately wanted to spend some time alone, but I also didn’t want to miss any of the excitement happening around me either. Navigating O-Week as an introvert can be tricky, but MtA and everyone involved with Orientation definitely make it easier. For all of my introverts, this one is for you— here are some of my tips and tricks to help get you through your first week as a Mountie and make the most of your orientation experience.

• Take advantage of the lower-energy events— During orientation, there are events that are less energy intensive that are designed to give people a breather, or for people who enjoy a more low-key hangout. Paint nights, movie nights, and walks around town are all examples of some of the options you might see during O-Week. Take advantage of these opportunities to get out there in an environment that allows you to be more comfortable! Even at the higher energy events, MtA advertises spaces on campus that are designated safe spaces for people to go if they need to take a minute and recharge—keep an eye out for these!
• Listen to your body and mind— This one is important. There can be a lot of pressure to go out and do everything because if you don’t, you might miss out on something. Try not to listen to all of the voices around you, because you are in charge of your experience! I can assure you that staying one night during O-Week will not hamper your prospects of making friends. In fact, recognizing that you need to rest and recharge your social battery will likely make it easier for you to interact with others. All events at Orientation are opt-in, meaning that nobody is going to come after you if you don’t make an appearance at the YukYuk’s comedy show (but seriously go to the comedy show !!)
• Challenge yourself— Just because you don’t have to go to any events, doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t. For me, once I decide to stay in, it’s super easy for me to fall into a habit of staying in my room and not getting out much. While this is enjoyable for me in its own right, I think it’s important to challenge yourself to step outside your comfort zone and try new things. Your challenges don’t have to be huge, but it’s the small things that add up and often times, you’ll be glad that you went out to the event or put yourself out there. Looking back, I can see that everyone was experiencing the same nerves during O-Week, so being the first to reach out and say hi (while scary) has the potential to ease someone else’s mind as well as your own.
• Remember that everyone’s experience is different— This one seems simple and honestly it is. Just because your orientation week might not look like someone else’s doesn’t mean that it’s any less valid or special. Everybody takes away something different from each event, making each experience unique! Try not to compare yourself to others or think that you’re “doing it wrong” because you’re not staying up all night every night or don’t enjoy screaming and dancing in front of a large crowd. You have my word that if it feels right, then you’re doing it right, no matter what it looks like to others.
• Rely on the supports around you— Lastly, take advantage of the resources around you! For some people it takes a bit longer to make friends, and that’s totally okay! Your RA team and residence execs are there to help you through this time. If you don’t have someone to eat lunch with, you can sit with them! If you don’t want to go to paint night alone, ask one of them! The people around you want to see you having fun and feeling settled in and will do anything to help MtA feel like home for you.

If any of these tips resonate with you (whether you’re an introvert or not), take it and run with it. Orientation is meant to be a big welcome to the wonderful Mount Allison community and at the end of the day, we just want you to be happy and excited for what the next four years are going to bring! I’ll part with the words of our orientation theme this year and remind you that You’ve Got This! and I hope to see you during O-Week.