2021 OS Newsletter June 2021 | 20th Edition | Page 7

OS EVENTS TEAM
“ In these trying times , the desire to connect with others in our OS community grew immensely , and our role felt even more important because of the lack of informal interaction between cohort members . Without opportunities to chat with classmates before class or run into friends on the diag , we had to create opportunities for both formal and informal connections .
In a time when it ’ s incredibly easy to isolate yourself from your networks , having frequent and lower-stakes events made it easier to facilitate casual conversations and helped the program feel more accessible .
Perhaps our crowning achievement this year was the Buddy Program , where we intentionally partnered juniors and seniors with similar pathways and interests . After a massive ice-breaking event , students were able to build upon those initial connections in their own timeframes .
At the end of the day , the powerpoint parties , virtual trivia nights , and even Zumba classes led by one of our very own OS students brought people together beyond the classroom . We are so grateful for the opportunity we had to transform the event planning committee into a stronger vessel for friendship in this incredible program !”
Natalie Cadotte Events Team
Rachel Klein Events Team
OS PEER MENTORS
Simran Jagirdar Peer Mentor
“ Being a peer mentor in the Covid-19 era was certainly different than what we were expecting our senior year to be ! While the manner in which we interacted with fellow student leadership team members and prospective students was different , working virtually opened many doors and created opportunities for connection and collaboration . Being online also forced us to streamline our processing and increase accessibility to all OS resources , and in a post-pandemic world , these resources will continue to be accessible to all students .
The virtual working environment also meant many were struggling to transition to online school . As peer mentors , we worked to become liaisons between the faculty , staff , and students . This year , that role meant checking in with the junior cohort to ensure their first year in OS was going smoothly . We wanted to ensure they knew they could rely on us for support which materialized in the form of a town hall so we could hear their concerns about their transition in OS . This year ’ s work has shown us that so much more is possible in the virtual community than we ever thought before !”
Anita Michaud Peer Mentor
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