Feedback to Orientation and Sidekick Project

Xiao Chen (Lucas)

Good Practices:

1. Campus tour

2. Well-sectioned sessions and their topics, floating presenters

3. Facebook group

Issues:

Among the following issues, what are general situations? What are exceptions?

Issue 1: The emails from sidekicks did not receive enough attention. Many don't

remember receiving such email or the name of the sidekick.

The IO email would like to double-emphasize that they are assigned to a peer

advisor/mentor (rather than sidekick), and please expect an email from your peer advisor.

Clarify what the students will need, and what their PA can do for them.

Issue 2: graduate students lack a welcoming community, unlike undergrads who are

welcomed into the residence hall by the members. Many of them, esp. Asian students, do

not have (or think they have) enough social skills to navigate.

Cocktail party was successful, but Asian students from the same countries tended to

gravitate towards people from the same countries, or felt detached from the ongoing

event. They alluded that they did not know how to initiate a conversation with people

from another country, and what to talk about with other students. Also, initiating

conversations does not accord with their cultural norm.

In this case, facilitators would be very important for getting the students "mentally and

socially ready". They have the desire to mingle but need a nudge. It would be great to

involve three things:

1) Add a page for "my happy international friends on the first day" to the booklet - to

inspire motivation;

2) Games that involves moving-around. E.g. the “walk-around” game, picking up paper

sheet with conversational prompts on the floor, “Giant paper-rock-scissors” (the ball

room can be an ideal place)

3) Watch some videos about international students in the US, followed by group

discussions that are moderated by a facilitator.

* Sidekicks can be trained to facilitate these activities.

4) Influence the mind of students by adding on the booklet information related to

"Northwestern's international community" or even suggested topics for conversation

Issue 3: Some already get anxious and are struggling. Some who just arrived are not

aware of the incoming adjustment challenges. Most of them actually do not know what to

expect.

Make the adjustment introductory session a brief but mandatory part of the orientation,

preferably in the plenary meeting. Show them the curve and let them know that it is a

process. Ask them to identify where they might be, and expect what might occur in the

following 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months. Invite guest speakers from CAPS (e.g.

Monika G. and Dr. Huang) to offer students precautions and advice. Tell them what

resources they can use if they feel stressed out.

Issue 4: During the hard time in the first quarter, students may feel depressed but shy

away from counseling service.

Set up a peer counselor system. Sidekicks can act this role or recruit volunteers - every

member has one hour a week on duty (it can be done via phones) for students who sign

up for talks. (cf. NU Listens, see what training they have gone through and what

resources they have.)

According to literature of counseling, five mature defense mechanisms can contribute to

positive psychology and adaptation. Workshops (Brown Bags) can be organized with

how to enhance these mechanisms in mind.

Doing as one would be done by (altruism), a stiff upper lip (suppression), planning for

the future (anticipation), the ability not to take one's self too seriously (humor), and

"turning lemons into lemonade" (sublimation).

Issue 5: The connections they build up during the orientation party does not tend to last

long.

We need to establish a mechanism to maintain it. For example, hobby groups on

Facebook or WeChat. WeChat is highly recommended, because it is highly practical and

free. Before the orientation, IO can send a reminder that includes the link to download

WeChat app, and let them know that WeChat will be useful during the orientation. In the

plenary meeting, show the QR codes of each group (already set up by sidekicks) on the

screen. Anyone in the audience can immediately join the group by scanning the code (just

a tap on WeChat). Students are thus given the drivers' seat to continue interaction, which

is sustained and reinforced by their hobbies. Sidekicks are encouraged to announce sport

events occasionally in the group.