Each week during the 2003 season, a different Longhorn volleyball player will describe a different facet of life as a Texas Longhorn. In the players' own words, this is Life as a Longhorn. 

Life as a Longhorn: Athletic Orientation
By Leticia Armstrong

Orientation Photo Gallery

L	Life as a Longhorn Playing in the Big 12 Strength Training Academic Courseload Athlete Orientation Academic Support Community Service Living in Austin Traveling Recruiting Sports Medicine Playing in the Postseason

Student-Athlete Orientation is just one thing that makes Texas' athletic program stand out from the all the rest. Orinetation brings all the new student-athletes, both freshmen and transfers, onto campus for four days before school starts and gets us ready to begin the year. We move in to the dorms; meet with our academic advisors; get our class schedules; take our placement tests; find out about the different offices in the athletic department; meet all of our new teammates and coaches; and just generally get the "lay of the land" before schools gets crazy.

There were even special sessions with UT coaches and athletic staff that our parents could attend. Even though we, as volleyball players, were already on campus for almost three weeks (for preseason training) when orientation started, we still got so much out of the program!

Orientation helped bring together all of the athletes since we had a lot of time to meet and get to know each other. If it hadn't been for Orientation, I don't think I would know half the people I know now on campus. Orientation made coming to a big school easier since we instantly had a group of people to hang out with. Now volleyball players, soccer, and softball players just chill in each other's rooms or around campus and socialize. I think Orientation had a major impact on all of us.

Not only did it help the players get to know one another, but it helped us get to know the coaches and the staff as well.

When we moved in, we had lots of people helping us, in addition to our families. Other athletes and coaches even came to help set up our rooms, so it was really fun meeting everyone. After we got officially settled in our dorms (rather than the temporary dorm rooms we were in when we came to school for preseason camp), we all went to get ID's with our coaches. We met with a lot of support staff who helped us get familiar with the department and who reminded again and again us how special it was to be a Longhorn!

After we met with everyone and generally adjusted to our new lives, we got down to business and did a lot of things related to academics. We took our placement tests, met our advisors and learned about the computer resources, advising, tutoring and career counseling available to us.

We had a great time at Orientation. It's really special at Texas and it is one of the things that make us really proud to be Longhorns!!