TAKE FLIGHT:

ESCAPING THE UNKNOWN

By: Minh Thu Nguyen

This is it. This is the final moment. It’s 9 p.m., and the decisions are out. Sweat’s

dripping down your forehead as you click on the inevitable button. “Congratulations you’ve been

accepted to the University of Central Florida.” The words on the screen should excite you. You

know your parents would be proud. You’ll be the first person in your family to attend college.

However, all you feel in that moment is scared. You never thought you’d actually get in. The

only thing you know about UCF is that Forbes says, “It’s Florida’s largest university and one of

the largest universities in the nation.” How’s little you going to navigate in the sea of 65,100

other undergraduate students? As you ponder this question, you begin doing your research on

UCF, because you know you can’t let this fear of the unknown hinder your future. Because of its

size and large student population, UCF would seem like an intimidating place to any incoming

freshman. But it doesn’t have to be.

Once you’re admitted into UCF, you’re required to attend one of the orientation sessions

provided to you by the First Year Experience office. At orientation, you’ll be given a tour of the

campus, get help registering for classes and learn about the many programs and activities that

UCF has for incoming students. There’s the LINK Program, which according to link.ucf.edu is

“an education and involvement-based program to help students new to UCF get involved on

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campus.” Then, there’s Pegasus Palooza. As UCF’s official Welcome Week, it’s a week of

concerts, comedy acts, pool parties, carnivals and many more.

If all this information is too overwhelming for you, don’t worry. Your parents are

welcome to attend orientation with you. All you have to do is go on

orientation.ucf.edu/ftic/main/ and register them for the Family Orientation Program. While

you’re on there, don’t forget to register yourself, too.

You’d think that’s enough to prepare you for your freshman year, but UCF doesn’t think

so. According to Marketing Charts, a leading data site for marketing and analysis, “92% of

Millennials own a smartphone,” and UCF knows that. Offered through the App Store and Google

Play, ucfmobile.ucf.edu says the UCF Mobile app was created for you to stay connected, be

informed and find your way. With 13 colleges, over 220 majors and more than 700 clubs and

organizations, there’s always something going on — whether you’re on the main campus, Rosen

College’s campus, or the downtown campus. The app provides you with an all-in-one access to

resources and services that the university offers. Some of these features include myUCF,

Webcourses@UCF and Knights Email. Through this app, you’ll also be able to navigate around

the campus, find parking availabilities, see when your shuttle’s coming, and keep up with news

and events.

It’s now midnight. Your brain’s fried from all the information you’ve learned about UCF,

and your eyes are burning from staring at the blue light of the computer screen for the past three

hours. However, you don’t feel tired at all. You actually feel excited. Adrenaline’s pumping

through your veins. Maybe you can actually do this. The school that was daunting a few hours

ago doesn’t seem so scary anymore. You feel a little more prepared, and you know UCF will
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help you with anything else you don’t know. As you fall asleep, there’s a small smile on your

face. You can’t wait to tell your parents the good news tomorrow, and you especially can’t wait

for what’s ahead.

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