Orientation Program Facilitator: Jeff Lam
Year & Program: Design & Development
Describe O-week using 3 words: Hype, Competitive, and Acquire-your-day-one-homies. Does that count? lol
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Gold Jesters in my first year, Then Team purple in my last
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform:
My strategy is to get my Korean Indie playlist, close the door, and just start grinding it out.
Oh! And snacks to keep you going
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?:
Me yelling at my first year self: Bro… VOLUNTEER!! Doesn’t matter how nice Toronto is, I swear Brantford is only lit if you put in the effort to meet peeps and have fun.
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: Straight up hang out with everyone I haven’t seen in person in FOREVVVERRR. Then squad up to get AYCE Wings at Game Time.
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: If you have Nerf Guns at your house and people to play with, the possibilities are limitless.
A fun fact you love:
Fact: since your One Card can be a bit limiting as to what you can and can’t buy with it. Expand your options by using your One Card at FreshCo and purchase various gift cards or prepaid credit cards to broaden what you can buy in town!
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?:
If Bleach Dying means bleaching my hair then bleach dying, imma dye my hair! You’ll see it soon!
Communications Executive: Paris Lad
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Paris (he/him)
Year & Program: 4th year Game Design and Development
Describe O-week using 3 words: Fun, Hype, Loud
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: It’s just seriously so much fun. My personal experience with it let me make a whole lot of new friends and pulled me out of my shell! If I didn’t participate in O-week I don’t think I would have nearly as much fun in University as I’m having now.
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Gold Jesters, Red Timbers, Blue Chargers, and Purple!
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: Have a dedicated space for your work and school stuff! A lot of people (myself included) use their computer and home for leisure, and only study on campus, so being at home just kills productivity unless we put ourselves in a space to work. Also keep it clean, especially if you’re like me and you like snacking 😀
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: Don’t sleep so much, you’ll have time to do that later. Use that time to get involved and do stuff, or you’re gunna end up pulling all-nighters and messing up your sleep schedule!!
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: This is a weird one- work! Being on campus gives me an actual schedule to follow, keeps me sane 😛
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: IF you have the money- build a PC. It’s so satisfying
A fun fact you love: Humans share around 50% of their DNA with bananas
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: I’m bout to dye my hair the prettiest shade of purple you ever did see
Logistics Exec: Ahad Naim
Preferred Name: Ahad Naim (He/Him)
Year & Program: 4th Year Business Technology Management
Describe O-week using 3 words: Beginning of Journey
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: O week is a super fun and enjoyable experience and you get to meet the people who you’ll be calling your friends over the next few years and join them in fun activites, oh and those icebreakers guys are pretty fun too.
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Red Green
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: Make a list of things you have to do and make sure you put deadlines for each task to make sure your motivated to get them done. As long as you have a schedule or a list to guide you. You’ll be able to achieve your daily goals with ease. Also remember it’s better to do it sooner rather than later. Dont forget to excercise too.
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: Go out more, your a social person, you’ve studied enough go have more fun and let loose.
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens? Falling asleep in a classroom. Falling asleep in a zoom class just dont hit the same.
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: Running !!! I am a runner and I recommend everyone try running it is super fun and a great way to challenge your body and mind.
A fun fact you love: May 29th is officially put a pillow in your fridge day
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: Bleaching dying def is the superior DIY.
Activities Executive: Josh Smith
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Josh (He/Him)
Year & Program: 4th year GA
Describe O-week using 3 words: A vibe, a blast, and a mood.
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: O-Week is one of the most fun, most exhausting, and most rewarding weeks of the year. It brings together the Laurier community in a way that can’t be done at any other time. O-Week has an atmosphere that just sucks you in and when it over, all you want to do is wait until next year.
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Purple and Green
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: Constant movement for me helps me stay relaxed and in the zone. Whether it be taking regular breaks to walk and stretch, or just standing instead of sitting while working, keeping my blood flowing helps me stay on task
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: Dont sell yourself short with what you’re capable of. Get involved in everything you want to, you can balance more than you think.
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: Hawk Team trivia night 😎😎
Shinerama Executive: Paige McWilliams
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Paige (She/ her)
Year & Program:
– 3rd Year, Law and Society
Describe O-week using 3 words: Exciting, Rewarding, Fun!
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week:
– O Week genuinely changes lives! It is a great time to make lifelong friendships and memories
Previous colour team(s) you have been on:
– Blue Chargers
– Red Rivals
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform:
– The two most important things are having your own space, and scheduling. You should make yourself a comfortable office space (that isn’t your bed) for school. I feel more motivated to do work knowing I have somewhere to do it. The second most important thing is making a schedule, and actually following through with it. If you just go with the flow you might find yourself overwhelmed with the amount of work you have to do at the end of the semester.
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?:
– Participate as much as you can. You’ll never look back and regret having fun and making friends.
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?:
– Getting to see everyone’s beautiful faces. I miss having everyday human interactions with other students
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying:
– Learn how to cook new meals.
A fun fact you love:
– Carnegie building was sold to Laurier for $1 and a can of coke
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?:
– Dying hair
Red Head Ice Breaker: Jessie Sidhu
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Jessie She/Her
Year & Program: 3rd HRHD
Describe O-week using 3 words: exciting, tiring, energetic
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: you’re going to be meeting so many cool new people! never know who you might meet; also you get to participate in cool activities (i.e headphone disco, paint party, etc) and you get to make first years feel welcome at our amazing school!
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Blue 🙂 💙
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: find a place with little-0 distractions, staying hydrated, making sure you take breaks!, eating when you feel hungry, don’t starve yourself! you deserve to eat some good food !
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: explore all your options! don’t limit yourself to something, don’t be afraid to try new things
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: being able to interact with my friends and in-class learning because i retain no info when it comes to online learning
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: cooking/baking 🙂
A fun fact you love: lobsters have blue blood
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: painting the pockets of your jeans
Red Head Ice Breaker: Grace Baric
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Grace Baric (She/Her)
Year & Program: 4th Year in Social Work
O-Week in 3 Words: Rewarding, Exciting, Crazy
Why I think everyone should get involved in o-week: I think it is the most exhausting yet rewarding and fun experience you can have. The amount of people you meet and the friendships you develop make o-week one of the greatest experiences I have had.
Previous Colours: 1st Year: Blue, 3rd Year: Red, 4th Year: Red
Tips for staying productive while at home: This is a somewhat predictable answer but I truly think setting yourself a goal during quarantine is extremely beneficial. As the quarantine started, I was super bored most of the time and quite down on myself. Once I began going on runs and forming my goal of climbing the CN tower, I found I had more to look forward to. By making goals for yourself while using an online platform, you can encourage yourself and others to stay productive while at home!
If I could give my first-year self one piece of advice: It would be to get involved more and to do icebreaking! You will meet so many great people!
What I am looking most forward to once campus opens: Definitely would be grabbing a latte between classes with my friends in Social Work!
Fun Quarantine Activity I would recommend: MUG CAKE!!! I am super lazy when it comes to baking and this only takes 5 minutes and it tastes so good!
A fun fact I love: Nicolas cage turned down the lead role in Shrek because he didn’t want to be an ogre. 🙂
Blue Head Ice Breaker: Christina Bayes
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Christina
Year & Program: 4th Year Social Work
Describe O-week using 3 words: Exciting, fun and friendships
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: O-Week introduces you to so many new people and creates lifelong friendships! You get to participate in so many fun activities and events and get involved in the Laurier community!
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: I’ve always been on Blue Team! I was a Blue Legend and a Blue Riptide! Blue Team forever!!
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: Create a designated study space and take small breaks often to keep yourself engaged and not get tired or distracted.
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: Don’t be scared to put yourself out there and try new things! It may seem scary but it will be worth it!
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: I’m just looking forward to being able to hang out with friends and have things get back to normal!
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: Netlix party is a lot of fun! And just having virtual hang outs with friends like having virtual game nights or painting or working out together!
A fun fact you love: Dog noses are unique like human fingerprints!
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: I love making homemade spinach dip!
Blue Head Ice Breaker: Greg Edgar
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Greg (He/him)
Year & Program: 4th-year Game Design and Development
Describe O-week using 3 words: New friends everywhere!
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: It’s a great start to the year and I always make new friends!
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Gold Aces, Blue Chargers, Red Rivals.
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: Close your door to animals and I love having music playing in the background!
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: Just ship it and put yourself out there, get as involved as possible.
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: Dinners at Nine North
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: Write a script adaptation of a book you love.
A fun fact you love: The mantis Shrimp exists and it is the most beautiful and horrifying creature ever. Seriously, look it up!
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: Homemade GoCart that I made with my step-dad.
Gold Head Ice Breaker: Set Ozturk
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Set Ozturk (she/her)
Year & Program:4th Year Criminology with minor in Indigenous Studies
Describe O-week using 3 words: Lively, Friendship, and Loud
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: It provides you with a solid foundation of resources, friends, connections on campus, and an overall fond memory of the exciting events and activities you get to participate in.
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: I have been on Gold every year since my first year as a freshman on this campus. I’m a bit of a golden legend😎
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform:
It all takes time to adapt, but continue your usual routine, whether that be waking up at a certain time or stepping outside for a walk. Maintaining what worked for you before in this new normal will keep you connected to those around you and grounded within yourself.
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?:
Give yourself time. There is no need to rush or overwhelm yourself with your coursework, space your time and energy out. You will find you succeed more and are happier when you balance your life.
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?:
I look forward to getting frustrated while I search for a parking spot on campus again. I definitely took that feeling for granted!
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying:
Watching Hamilton over and over again until you live and breathe it’s lyrics. Strongly recommend.
A fun fact you love:
That the unicorn is the national animal of Scotland!
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?:
Baking Bread!
Gold Head Ice Breaker: Nic CareriPreferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Nicolas Careri (He/Him)
Green Head Ice Breaker: Heather Duff
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): Heather (she/her)
Position: Green Head Ice
Year & Program: 4th year Youth and Children’s Studies
Describe O-week using 3 words: Super Funky Fresh
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: it is a great experience to meet new people and allows you to be a part of something bigger than yourself!
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: gold ace, blue charger, red rival
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: use a calendar to keep yourself to a schedule! Make sure to add in all your fun activities as well for motivation
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: it is okay to make mistakes and learn from them! Also eat healthily
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: using study spaces and seeing everyone walking around!
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: learning to make new recipes
A fun fact you love: Jason DeRulo is a classically trained opera singer
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: bread
Green Head Ice Breaker: David McMillan
Preferred Name (and pronouns if you want): David McMillan (He/Him)
Year & Program: 3rd Year Business Technology Management
Describe O-week using 3 words: Crazy, Fun, Unique
Why you think everyone should get involved with O-week: Great way to meet people you never would have met otherwise!
Previous colour team(s) you have been on: Blue Chargers, Gold Infinities
Tips for staying productive while at home or while using an online platform: Try to have your own physical space just for work!
If you could give your first year self one piece of advice, what would it be?: Relax! And focus on yourself!
What are you most looking forward to getting back to once campus opens?: Getting to see everyone in person again!
Fun quarantine activity you would recommend trying: Jackbox!
A fun fact you love: Theodore Roosevelt owned a pet Hyena
Favourite at home DIY – baking bread or bleach dying?: baking bread!