Heritage Magazine: Welcoming Every Bearkat Home

Heritage Magazine: Welcoming Every Bearkat Home

Sam Houston State University boasts a high percentage of first-generation and non-traditional students eager to make their mark on the world. Before they can hit the ground running, however, they need someone to show them the ropes. That’s where student orientation leaders like Alyssa Rodriguez thrive.   

“Before choosing Sam, I took a tour of campus through a program that assists first-gen high school students aspiring to go to college,” said Rodriguez, a junior political science major and McNair Scholar. “I vividly remember the first person I connected with here: my orientation leader. I always looked up to her and she set the standard for me.”  

Rodriguez was inspired to jump right into the college lifestyle during her freshman year, participating in every activity and forging every new relationship she could. The Houston native’s staunch determination, along with the support of her family, made for a seamless transition.  

“Early on, I went full force to put myself out there and make connections. I found a community that supports me and my interests. It felt like home immediately,” she said.  

By the end of her sophomore year, Rodriguez had gone from a student admitted under holistic review to a model of excellence in higher education. Her heavy involvement on campus gave her a clear identity within her beloved community, both socially and academically.  

“Sam Houston took a chance on me,” she said. “I feel like I have an obligation to give back to the university that made me.” 

This obligation, coupled with a habit of challenging herself to try something new, led her to respond to a social media post from Visitor Services seeking applicants to lead the summer’s New Student Orientation sessions.  

“A lot of college students, especially the large at-risk population coming to Sam, benefit tremendously from an orientation leader who looks like them and reminds them of themselves,” Rodriguez said. “I am so grateful to have the opportunity to assist others the same way others assisted me.”  

She was not immediately sure if this was the role for her. After all, orientation leaders are typically characterized as loud, outgoing and boisterous, often from the crack of dawn to the dead of night. While Rodriguez had worked hard on being as forthcoming as possible to thrive at Sam, she simply did not see herself as this particular brand of extrovert. 

“Before I knew it, I was participating in 9 a.m. dance parties at Starbucks,” she said. “It all comes out of you when you are in that environment and meet these students who are nervous, but you know they will be just fine, because they chose a school that cares about them. It’s okay to be a little obnoxious if it helps someone out.”  

Rodriguez and her fellow orientation leaders participated in 17 sessions throughout the summer for various sets of incoming students, but their work began much earlier. After they were hired in late March, leaders were tasked with learning everything about the university from its history and layout to differing degree programs and meal plans, all before sessions began in May. Each had to be prepared for any possible question that could come their way from an incoming freshman or parent in a hectic environment, as well as what direction to point them in afterwards. 

“Our team works hard to put the guest experience at the forefront of everything we do for orientation,” said Courtney Chastine, director of Visitor Services. “We constantly remind our staff that our incoming students and families are going through a major life transition by starting college, which often comes with excitement but also fear and anxiety.”

Chastine also emphasized how much work goes on behind the scenes in providing a smooth experience for new students. 

“Of course, they have to know about the university, but to be a successful orientation leader also requires a lot of knowledge about event management,” she said. “This role really builds their skills in interpersonal communication, emotional intelligence, organization, flexibility and teamwork, which are all highly transferable skills for their next steps after SHSU.”

Leading up to the first orientation, leaders participate in an intensive training week that includes in-depth sessions and a barrage of critical information. On orientation day, each leader is required to report to the Lowman Student Center at 6:30 a.m., with check-in proceedings starting at 7:30.  

In the days leading up to each orientation, the leaders participate in calling campaigns, individually contacting each parent or student scheduled to attend the upcoming session by phone. The personalized process includes an opportunity to answer questions in order to make attendees feel less overwhelmed by the experience.  

Orientation day assignments vary by leader, with some acting as greeters to welcome students and their families; or floaters, who seek to assist anyone who may need a hand. Others, including Rodriguez, prepare welcome bags filled with pertinent information and merchandise for new Bearkats and their families.  

Following an introduction ceremony in the LSC, students are broken into small groups based on the college they are joining. Each small group contains about 20 new students led by one orientation leader.   

“That is when we are able to form those one-on-one connections and provide the guidance they are looking for,” Rodriguez said. “The main thing I tell them is to be kind to others. Some freshmen adopt a “too-cool-for-school” mentality and don’t want to participate in icebreakers. But you never know when you are going to talk to someone who will become your classmate, or even your best friend.”  

In a new and unfamiliar setting, incoming students are always eager to pick Rodriguez’s brain for advice on how to adjust to the lifestyle. She pays forward the same pieces of advice that helped her thrive two years prior.  

“Getting involved and joining an organization is the easiest way to find your community on campus,” she said. “Sam Houston State has over 250 orgs; chances are, you will find at least one that is right for you. If not, you can start your own.”  

As a direct beneficiary of SHSU’s many pathways to student success, Rodriguez serves as the perfect ambassador for all the groundbreaking opportunities offered to every Bearkat.  

“If you see an opportunity that you want, go for it,” she said. “Make sure that you are aware of all the possibilities available to you. Learn about that internship, research or study abroad opportunity. Take advantage of everything you can, because all of this and more is possible here at Sam.”  

During her last session in August, Rodriguez and her orientation family felt a bittersweet sense of finality amidst a sea of new beginnings.  

“This job has certainly shaped me and the way I interact with people. It instilled a newfound confidence in myself and my abilities,” she said. “I now hold myself to a higher standard, not only as an orientation leader, but as a student and person.”  

As she embarks on her junior year at Sam Houston State, Rodriguez is eager to continue finding ways to cultivate relationships with her classmates and professors as she edges closer to a degree in political science. And as a member of the McNair Scholars Program, she is engaged in defining her goals in research and further opportunities in higher education, including a master’s degree or more.  

“I want to attend graduate school to study legislative affairs or politics,” she said. “My end goal is to become an immigration attorney and keep serving others.” 

For more inspiring stories about all things Sam Houston State University, read the Fall/Winter 2025 edition of Heritage Magazine here.