Arkansas Tech University graduate student Rebekah Hickman had a great experience when she attended her orientation program to begin college. This summer she will have the opportunity to pay it forward by helping other students have a positive start to college.
Hickman is spending her summer in Rock Hill, South Carolina to intern in the Office of New Student and Family Programs at Winthrop University.
Her goal is to help the 1500 freshmen she will meet transition successfully to college.
“College is a unique time in a person’s life and they experience many opportunities that may not occur again in their life,” said Hickman. “For some students, orientation may be their first experience with the institution they are attending, so it can really set the tone for their entire college experience. I hope I can help incoming students with one of their biggest life transitions and impact them in the ways I was impacted as an undergraduate student.”
In order to ensure success, Hickman is assisting in a variety of tasks to make sure everyone is ready for the students arriving at Winthrop.
“I am assisting in the training and supervision of twenty Orientation Leaders. I am also responsible for planning, managing, and supervising all evening activities, SKITS, and the Group2Group program for Freshman Orientation,” said Hickman.
Hickman hopes this experience will continue to help her prepare for a career in the field.
“I hope to gain professional experience in several different areas of Student Affairs that I have not yet been involved with,” said Hickman. “I also hope to learn the ins and outs of the orientation process in order to further develop my competencies.”
Getting to interact with the students is what Hickman says is her favorite part.
“I love getting to know students, so I can’t wait to learn about all the students and see what makes them unique,” said Hickman. “I will have the opportunity to interact will all of the freshmen, and I am really looking forward to that experience.”
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