Just a year ago, I was there.

Orientation seemed endless, the leaders’ enthusiasm freaked me out, and the tour around campus in 95-degree weather didn’t help, either. I get it: orientation isn’t that great.

In fact, I would bet anything that instead of being stuck on the grounds of FAU for two days during your last summer before college, you’d much rather spend them at the beach or with your friends. I don’t blame you, I know what it’s like.

I was a freshman, too. I was annoyed at my leaders, annoyed at the tours, and frankly, just bored out of my mind.

But there’s more to orientation than you think. The backbones of this two-day process are the leaders because they’re not just your “tour guides” through the campus.

After spending an entire day with them at orientation, I realized that there’s a lot more going on behind the scenes than anyone could imagine.

While you were complaining about having to get your butt on campus at 8 a.m., these leaders were already running around to set everything up at 6.

Besides keeping up with their regular class schedule during the school year, these leaders spend months training for summer orientations, infinite hours studying a 20-page book containing the most important facts about campus and weeks practicing how to walk backward while reciting information about the university.

I feel your pain, and I know it sucks to come to FAU early in the morning for something that seems so pointless. But orientation is not just brought to you by cheerleaders for the university, it’s brought to you by students just like you.

You’ll learn your way around campus, meet some new friends and get a little bit more excited about your new career as a college student.

This is a big deal. You’re not in high school anymore, and now you’re on your own. Hear your leaders out and learn a little bit more about them and their advice to freshmen on page 7 where we’ve put together a special spread featuring all 22 of them.

Don’t worry, orientation will be over soon. But while you’re at it, try to have some fun – it’s not that bad.