We all come to CMU as a diverse collective group of students, from different backgrounds, cultures and even countries. However, one thing we all end up having in common is our experience going through orientation. Freshman orientation. This word means so much to all of us whether it was a week of endless parties and drinking or a week of awkward conversations. But above all, when we think of orientation, we cannot possibly forget the hard working OCs, OLs and HOCs who put the entire week together. Jennifer Sung, often called, J-Swag, was definitely one of the stars who brought it all together.
Jen Sung, a senior in CFA, is majoring in Industrial Design and minoring in Photography. I’d be surprised if you’ve never seen or heard of her on campus because her outgoing and loud personality is very hard to miss and even harder to come by. She has many awesome traits and plenty of accomplishments that I can go on and on about, but we both came to a conclusion that her time being an OC and an OL is something that is extra special. When Jen first came to CMU, she absolutely enjoyed every moment of her experience going through her freshman orientation week. She said, “it really helped me to kind of break out of this shy shell that I had from high school. I had to break out of my comfort zone to meet new friends. I’m still very good friends with most of the people I met through orientation.” After having a great time being part of orientation, Jen became an OC for Mudge House her sophomore year. She helped plan activities, brainstorm ideas with other fellow OCs and OLs, and get the new freshman pumped for their start of college life. Jen continued being involved with orientation by getting picked to become an OL her junior and senior year. She described her experiences being an Orientation Leader as an amazing opportunity because she “got to be a bigger part of the orientation process by helping the HOCs pick the new OCs for the upcoming year.” Her energy and excitement is contagious, and there is no doubt that her ideas and plans for orientation helped everyone have fun and enjoy.
Jen is very sad about not being able to come back as an OL next year. She says she is going to feel “lonely and left out when [she] sees all the fun happening during orientation time.” We too are all going to miss her and feel completely out of place when we can no longer see her excited face or hear her meow’s. However, I believe that no matter where she will be next year or the year after, she will always have a bright smile on her face ready to become a part of a new, bigger community. It will be much like her freshman orientation all over again except without the house war and crazy college parties. But we all know she’ll always have her swag on.