I am constantly thinking about the experiences that shape me as a Gator. Being a first generation college student, I didn't inherit a collegiate allegiance from mom and dad. As I reflect on the events that made me into the Gator I am today, I recall one of my first experiences at UF: Preview.
The Preview experience is different for every student. Incoming freshmen get a different Preview experience than transfer students. Summer admits are different from fall admits, as are the incoming members of the innovation academy. My Preview experience was a two day affair that helped me prepare for the transition from living at home to living on my own. It also prepared me for the new academic standards I would be held to. Most importantly, it prepared me for the social experiences that would play a large role in defining my time at UF.
Every day the I am in the Reitz Union I see new students and Preview families making their way between the Grand Ballroom, the meeting rooms on the third floor, and the other outstanding activities that are a part of Preview. The Reitz buzzes with energy and excitement. Occasionally I overhear new gators talking about their anticipated major, the Student Alumni Association, or Greek life. I can't help but envision the great things this incoming class will accomplish. I realize that crowded elevators in the Reitz and longer lines at the HUB are a slight inconvenience, but I ask that all of my fellow Gators be kind, courteous and welcoming to our baby Gators and their families.
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