By ANNE FAZIO
Managing Editor
 

As a first-time Resident Coordinator I found myself a bit nervous as I pulled up to Rand Hall last Saturday afternoon. Having arrived a day early I had the opportunity to move in and enjoy my spacious single on the first floor (something my fellow colleagues would not do because of our multiple commitments). However, as the day slipped into the night, and the night into the next day my relaxed demeanor was quickly replaced with a big case of the jitters. My anxieties were swiftly put to rest as I walked over Sunday evening to the Mays Center for an introductory dinner with fellow RC's and the super excited Junior Advisors. After brief introductions and a fabulously catered commons meal, we were requested to meet bright and early the following morning for our Outward Bound ropes program.

I think that the Outward Bound experience was the highlight of orientation week. Quickly our entire group bonded, and soon enough we were joking around like old friends. The best part was that there were not two distinct groups among the RC's and JA's, rather we were all in the same boat, and that the week ahead was a learning process for everyone. I felt that as we got back into the vans to return to Bates the entire group was excited to jump into the programs scheduled for the next four days -- little did we know that each of the days was to be ten hours long.

The following days were characterized by multiple and seemingly endless seminars. Though I believe each presentation was very worthy three straight hours of "Eating Disorders," "Sexuality Issues," and "Suicide, Depression and Peer Counseling Techniques" was well, depressing. I found that the best mornings/afternoons incorporated a variety of lecturing as well as interactive discussions . Having said that, I found our Thursday session to be the best sequence of events all week. "The what would you do if" ... (scenarios) and Hypo Halls for me proved to be the most useful activities we did during the week. Role playing forced each one of us to carefully examine our positions, and intelligently deal with sensitive situations.

Furthermore, until Thursday I felt a bit left out of various discussions held during the previous days. Inevitably conversations were channeled toward the JA's and their first years. I completely understand the necessity to address the multiple issues that Junior Advisors would face with their centers, but hey, I had never seen a blue slip before (call me ignorant), and I assumed that the majority of my job was going to be signing these important pieces of paper. Let's just say that i signed my first one Tuesday for Women's Rugby, and I had to ask the captains where.

However, all in all minus the tight schedule, I walked away from the experience grinning. I loved acting for the Hypo Halls, and I feel that the week was a success. I can only pray that my year will run just as smoothly -- no complaints yet.