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By Jody Hobbs, Patrizia Corvaia, and Michele Rymdeika, members of the Parents Council

For the first time since the start of the pandemic, New Student Orientation will be held in-person at University Park. My student began his journey at Penn State when all NSO activities were conducted online. I was curious about how the in-person NSO compared to my virtual option, so I asked a couple of my fellow Parents Council members about their in-person programs. Based on their responses, I am sorry that my son and I missed it the opportunity that NSO offers to connect to other new families!

Jody Hobbs: What do you remember about NSO?

Patty Corvaia: NSO was the first time that my son’s dream of being a Penn State student felt real. I am an immigrant and the first person in my family to attend school in the United States, so I didn’t have the benefit of experiencing the college process with my parents. I was living what I had only heard about, and thought was incredible—being part of a big university community!

As a single parent and an out-of-state parent, I was worried. I didn’t know anything about Penn State or University Park, and my son only had me as a guide. That worry was wiped away quickly. As we stood in line at the HUB (student union building), I started to chat with Mary, a PSU alum. Soon, we were introducing our sons to each other and then suddenly there was a friend group! Mary was so friendly, helpful and kind throughout NSO. I will always be grateful we met.

The best moment (and yes, I may have shed a tear or two) was when my son got his PSU ID. Somewhere in my digital files, I have a photo of him standing in front of the bookstore, proudly holding his ID while a smile as big and bright as the White Out at Beaver Stadium lit up his face. I also am glad we got a photo in front of Old Main that day, too. (That was another tearjerker.)

The information sessions were so helpful. I learned so much about Penn State and so did my son. But more important, he and I both felt Penn State. The energy, the excitement in the air, the engagement and interactions among the parents, students, and PSU staff made it a truly wonderful experience.

The “big moment” for my son was signing up for classes which happened at the end of the second day. That’s when the Penn State journey really felt “official.” After signing up for classes, we said goodbye to our new friends, packed up the car and left Happy Valley with the sun shining brightly all the way home.

I would say to any parent: take it all in! Enjoy the experience. Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Be ready to watch your student take flight. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring tissues. Even if they roll their eyes at you, take as many photos and selfies as you possibly can. These are two days that you’ll remember.

Jody Hobbs: What did you learn at NSO?

Michele Rymdeika: I remember learning—a lot. Maybe the best thing I learned is that I was not alone. This was really important to me as a first-time parent of a college student. At NSO, I was surrounded by other parents and caregivers who were going through the exact same thing as me—the same questions, the same feelings, the same concerns. Talking with other families at NSO gave me a sense of connecting. I felt validated when I heard others ask the many of the questions that I also had. As I walked around campus with others (parents with parents; students with students), I felt like part of a community.

I also learned that the Parents and Families Guide which is shared at NSO is truly a comprehensive guide to everything Penn State. While it is available online, I like having a printed copy available to read and reference. The guide was useful to me then and is still useful to me now. Dates, checklists, how to use LionPATH, what’s available on the dining plan, campus safety—it’s all in there. And if it is not, the Guide has lists of office phone numbers that I can call for answers.

I learned that NSO was an important way for my student to connect to other new students. The evening the students spent in the dorm is the ultimate icebreaker! My daughter loved it and afterwards truly felt like "everything will be ok, and this is really cool." I remember after her NSO, she wanted the summer to "go fast" so she could "get out there." NSO helped her to feel not so overwhelmed at the idea of attending a big school. I am glad that we both embraced the opportunity to meet and make a few new friends.

Overall, I learned that apart from all the information I received, NSO left both me and my daughter with a "feeling" that is hard to describe. It is a "feeling" that lightened my anxiety about what the next chapter held for my student and gave me a sense that everything was going to be just fine.

Finally, by walking around University Park, I learned that campus isn't as big as it seems when you get used to it. But I also learned that it is important to wear comfortable shoes!

Past NSO parent experiences can be found here: https://psu.campusesp.com/posts/3025

The Parent-to-Parent Blog is written by members of the Penn State Parents Council who are dedicated to enhancing communication about the Penn State family experience. Opinions and experiences expressed in the blog are those of the writer(s). The blog is a partnership with the Penn State Parents Program.

Learn more about the Parents Council.