O-Week!

Feb 20, 2017
2 min read

Updated: 2 days ago

Today officially marked the start of Griffith University Orientation, and it's hard to believe there is only one week left until classes begin for the trimester.

Attending a college orientation as a second-semester junior felt a little strange. Most of the students attending were freshmen, and being surrounded by so many unfamiliar faces can be overwhelming at times. Starting over at a new school definitely makes you miss your own college, friends, and the familiarity of home.

One major difference I noticed during orientation was the student clubs. Unlike many universities in the United States, there weren't as many clubs to choose from, and most require a membership fee to join. It was an interesting cultural difference that I wasn't expecting.

Touring Griffith with the orientation leaders and seeing the campus filled with students gave me a completely different perspective compared to my earlier visit when the campus was mostly empty. Experiencing the energy of student life firsthand made me even more excited to begin classes and become part of the Griffith community.

Studying abroad at Griffith University will give me the opportunity to experience college from a completely different perspective. I'm looking forward to becoming more independent, stepping outside of my comfort zone, and meeting new people from around the world. While it can be intimidating at times, it's also exciting to embrace new experiences and challenges.

After orientation, I headed back to the beach, which has quickly become one of my favorite places to spend time. To end the day, some friends and I treated ourselves to dessert at Max Brenner's Chocolate Bar, which was the perfect way to wrap up a busy and exciting day.

Overall, orientation made everything feel a little more real. With classes starting soon and so many new experiences ahead, I'm excited to see what the rest of my time in Australia has in store.