I'm an OPA!

I'm honestly still in shock. I can't believe it!

I found out Wednesday night. I got a phone call from the Orientation office. They said the application process this year was really competitive and they had so many awesome applicants. They said they really enjoyed getting to know me and were glad I decided to apply.  And the decisions they had to make this round were really tough.

Long pause. I thought surely they're going to let me down easy now. At least I gave it a shot.

...And we'd be pleased to offer you a position as an Orientation Peer Adviser! 

I don't even remember most of the conversation after that. There was a lot of me exclaiming - Are you serious? For real? Really? Oh my gosh I'm so excited! A few times around.

Then they asked me if I wanted to accept the position.
...ummm... OF COURSE! I've only been going through this application and interview process for two months now! (But I didn't say that, obviously). I readily accepted and I'm an OPA! 

An OPA stands for Orientation Peer Adviser.  It is a group of diverse undergraduate students that assist first years in their transition to JMU (about 30 people get picked each year).  In the JMU world, it's a pretty big deal. It's an awesome opportunity for leadership and service in the JMU community, specifically with orientation. I'll get to be a mentor and role model to incoming first-years, supervise the First Year Orientation Guides, provide direction and support for parents and new students, represent the wonderful JMU and basically depict the life of a JMU student.   

I'm not sure how it gets any better! But it does! Along with the job, I get to stay at JMU for most of the summer because I'll be helping with Summer Springboard. It's days during the summer when first-years come to tour campus, sign up for classes, get some great info, and start getting excited about life as a JMU Duke! I'll be one of the first impressions that some students have of JMU, and I consider that an immense privilege. And I'll get to hang out with the first-years all day, take them around campus, talk about life and build relationships. How cool is that?!? 

From what I can tell already, I'm going to love it. I didn't even realize how much I wanted this job until they told me I got it. But I REALLY wanted this job. I'll get to enhance my leadership skills, communication and customer service skills and support these awesome incoming first-years. 

I'm still friends with my OPA from freshman year, and I remember she helped me so much in my transition. If i can help others half as much as she helped me, I'll consider it a success! 

I think I'm still on cloud 9. I never expected this, in all honesty. I applied hopeful, thinking I didn't have anything to lose. After the group interview, I thought there were such interesting and amazing people in the group that I probably wouldn't get an individual interview. When I did, I was pretty shocked. After the individual interview, I thought it could go either way. I knew it was extremely competitive and they had such awesome applicants. The kind of applicants that are like super-students, they're involved in everything at JMU. And that's not really me. I am involved in some organizations, I've done well academically, and I love service. But I'm not spectacular in any way. I'm ordinary and average, I guess. I'm not even sure why they picked me, but I'm sure going to give it my all and pour myself into these first-years to make it the best transition possible for them!

I can't wait to start this new journey and meet the rest of the Orientation team (O-team)!

God has clearly blessed me in this. And He's chosen this for me, because there's no way I could have gotten this on my own. All the praise is His!  

Life's an adventure, and God is good.