You’ve been accepted to American University. Your next step: attend orientation and meet your orientation leader.

If you’re lucky, you had Katie Young the summer she led groups. Katie’s enthusiasm and creativity made her the perfect “welcome” for any new student.  

Working with New Student Programs helped Katie discover a lot about herself; from how she interacts in crowds of 25 versus 500 to her leadership strengths and weaknesses. Katie also learned a lot about others. A big part of being an orientation leader is making connections on campus, both with new students and with departments such as the Dean of Students Office, Student Activities, and the University Center. 

“Being an OL helped me put myself solidly in the AU community,” said Katie. “My connections to campus just make my life that much easier. If I have an issue, I know who to go to.”  

One of the most rewarding outcomes of the position is seeing the results of hard work.  

“When I see students that were in my group and are now seniors, I take pride in knowing that I was there at that first step,” said Katie. “I helped someone grow and find their niche.”