Ashley Burbank
Brigham City, UT
Exercise Science
Leadership

TAVI Team Captain

​For my project, I chose to be a TAVI Team Captain for Thunder U during August of 2018. That is what Southern Utah University calls freshman orientation the weekend before students start their freshman year of college. Through doing this project, I was able to help students feel comfortable and at home at SUU as they left their homes and families and began this new chapter of life. I also helped students figure out how college works, who they can turn to when they need help, and where to go to find fun activities to do in and around town. I hope that I was able to help those incoming freshmen make that transition into a new part of their lives as smooth as possible.

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As a Team Captain, I helped students connect with others on campus, including peers and faculty. I was also able to help students find their place here, where they could find people with common interests and hobbies. I hope that I was able to help students discover that they have at least one friend and that they can succeed here at Southern Utah University. Now that my project and Thunder U are over, the students I worked with have not only made new memories and friends, but they have made valuable connections. That was the ultimate goal of doing this EDGE project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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My freshman year was the last year that SUU used the old model. I came down for two days during the summer and got to participate in overnight orientation. Then, there were around 4 days before school started that were dedicated to Thunder U. I had so much fun and those two separate orientation events really helped me find my place at SUU. It helped me feel more comfortable and is when I started to fall in love with the school. I wanted to do the same for other students that my orientation leaders did for me.

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I’m not a very social person, and talking to people doesn’t often come easy to me. I feel like I’m being judged by everyone that I speak to and I get nervous. I ran into that a little bit during this project, but not as much as I was worried I would. Being around such kind and open minded people really helped me feel accepted and welcome. This project helped me overcome that social anxiety that I sometimes experience.

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There were several freshmen that I kept in touch with for a few months after Thunder U was over. I talked to them and I gave them rides when needed. One was a friend’s younger sister and I think she took a lot of comfort in knowing that she had a friendly person down here to help her out. I really hope that being everyone’s friend during Thunder U helped them feel more at home. That was one of the biggest goals I had for this project.

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Not only did this project help improve my social skills, but it also helped me develop my leadership skills. Not long after Thunder U was over, I was told that I was lead staff at my house that I work at and that I was very close to being ready to be a good manager. Thunder U helped me be more assertive, confident, and sure of myself. All of these things carried over into my work life to help me be a better employee. I benefited in many ways during this project.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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“Thunder U was a great experience and I am so grateful for this opportunity.”

“My friend thanked me for helping his little sister out during her first weekend away from home. I’m glad that I got to help her and her family feel more at ease during this transition.”