New to college and you need someone to help you find your way through the next four years? That’s what the Student Orientation Assistants (SOA) purpose is to do. This group of people is the first individuals you will meet when you walk onto campus for your orientation day. They are the men and women who have been there and survived their freshman year. They understand what you are experiencing internally and externally. The excitement of college, how to get involved and make sure each one of the incoming freshmen succeeds and make great students.

Any student can be an orientation leader as long as you have the desire to guide these incoming students to success and want to express how amazing it is to be True Blue. The process starts with an application in the fall semester followed by a few office interviews with the staff. SOA’s also have the entire spring semester to learn about MTSU inside and out as well as developing skills to give great tours and lead incoming students to succeed.

The video above is an interview of two previous SOA’s you might recognize from this past summer. Emily Johnston and Gerard McQueen both tell their stories of what it means to be an SOA, some of their favorite spots to take students on tours and advice to give to incoming freshman.