This may be an obvious statement, but it must be said: Orientation for UCLA Anderson is quite a different experience as a second-year.
By the end of the first week of my own Orientation last year, I already knew that I wanted to participate as a second-year leader. Last week, I cut my summer vacation short to come back early and prepare for the incoming Class of 2010. This Monday, my fellow Orientation Leaders and I welcomed about 370 first-years to the Anderson campus. It's been busy all week, I'm running on less sleep and working for longer hours than I did during my summer internship...and I'm having a blast!
Orientation at UCLA Anderson is a two week event: the first week is a leadership course with lectures and activities focusing on team building and personal characteristics; the second week introduces students to the numerous resources - career, academic, club, and social - available to them at Anderson. We're now coming to the end of week 1, and I'm a proud leader of Section B, which has already grown into a strong, supportive team (and happens to include, by chance, fellow blogger, Evelyn Lee!).
My current role in Orientation has allowed me an objective view of UCLA Anderson and the students in our community. In a word, they're impressive. Between the second-years volunteering their time and energy towards this multi-week event, the first-years who've come from all over the world to contribute their diverse backgrounds and learn from each other, and the school that really works with the students to affect change and ensure a successful MBA experience...I am impressed.
