Sending a student to college often comes with a mix of pride, excitement, and uncertainty. For many families, orientation is one of the first major milestones in that transition. It is natural to wonder how a student will adjust, make connections, navigate campus, and feel at home in a new environment. One of the most reassuring things to know is that these feelings are common – for students as well. Many arrive feeling nervous or unsure, but leave feeling more confident, informed, and excited for what lies ahead.
Below, Texas Tech students share their personal experiences from orientation and how that experience helped ease nerves, build confidence, and create excitement for the journey ahead.
Sophie: Personally, Red Raider Orientation was equal parts exciting and a little nerve-wracking. I loved how helpful and encouraging everyone was, but the newness of it all was definitely hitting me. As the oldest child in my family, orientation felt like stepping into something completely unfamiliar, without having someone ahead of me to show me the way. But once I started connecting with other incoming students, I realized we all felt that same way, which helped me relax and truly make the most of the experience. Instead of worrying about having everything figured out, I focused on getting involved, asking questions, and taking it all in. That shift in mindset made a big difference and helped me feel more confident moving forward. In the end, it all worked out better than I expected, and orientation gave me the tools and confidence I needed to begin my college experience on the right foot.
Nathan: Going into orientation, I was completely unaware of what to expect. I was freshly graduated, not quite ready to face the reality of college and unsure of what my future would hold. Despite these fears, I walked into orientation ready to embrace the change and see what the next four years would look like, and I’m so glad I did. Some of my first college friends are people that I still see on the daily. Connections that I made at RRO quickly turned into lab partners, familiar faces in class, someone to eat with in the dining hall and so much more. Friendships aside, RRO provided me with so many valuable connections to many different staff members on campus, really embracing the red raider family. To any incoming student who is unsure about attending RRO, DO IT!!!!! You never know when the best time of your life may start!
Makenna: My experience at RRO was really exciting and made everything start to feel real. Getting to meet so many new people and finally see where I’d be living for the next year was such a cool moment. Touring my dorm was one of my favorite parts—I loved getting to picture how I’d decorate and make it feel like home. One of the most helpful things for me was having guidance while building my fall schedule, which made the whole process way less stressful. Overall, everyone at RRO was so welcoming and supportive, and it honestly made me even more excited to start the year as a Red Raider!
Brady: For me, Red Raider Orientation was definitely a mixed bag. I enjoyed the opportunity to learn more about Texas Tech and all of the ins and outs of the university, as well as the chance to see an overview of my next four years while creating my schedule with the help of my advisor. It was great to be able to get my bearings before classes started, but it was also a lot at times. There was lots of information, plus a bunch of complete strangers, in an unfamiliar environment. Once I was able to get into a groove, I really appreciated the fun activities and guidance from Texas Tech, and that flood of information turned out to be extremely helpful!
Elise: I took a summer RRO session and attended Red Raider Camp where you stay in the dorms as an extension of orientation. It was very fun overall, it definitely was a lot in terms of beating the heat and physical exhaustion but it was nice to make friends in my group that I still talk to even now. It was helpful when it comes to not going right into college knowing nobody or not knowing where anything is. My favorite part of RRO was definitely learning about the traditions and seeing the Masked Rider at night during camp, it was the most memorable activity we did for me. I would highly recommend your student do the overnight part of RRO, even if they don’t end up staying in the dorms like me. It was fun to learn what the rooms look like and the people you meet will really make you feel less isolated when starting up at Tech. Take advantage of the chance to make easy friends in advance and get to know campus.
Orientation comes through as a mix of nerves, excitement, and a lot of “this is really happening” moments- and that’s what makes it so unique. For families, it’s a chance to be part of that new beginning in a meaningful way. So instead of hanging back, lean into this experience with your student. Walk the campus, ask questions, listen in, and enjoy getting a glimpse of the world they’re stepping into- because every success story begins in the unknown, where everything feels new and full of possibility.
