Justin Nakamura Makes Sure Orientations Run Smoothly
For Justin Nakamura, his job as an orientation advisor and session coordinator for the Office of Orientation Programs is a way to share the knowledge gained over his four years at USC to incoming freshman, graduate and international students.
"As a graduating senior, I get to talk to parents who are worried about their kid's choice to come to USC and reassure them that they made a good decision," says Nakamura, a class of 2009 Renaissance Scholar. "Sometimes the parents aren't ready to let go, but the students are excited."
Nakamura first became involved with Orientation Programs as an orientation advisor in his native state of Hawaii two years ago. He has also led graduate and international orientations, but says Hawaii is his favorite.
"My favorite orientation is Hawaii because I get to work with students of the same background as me," he says. "I feel like I can help them because I know what they're experiencing."
As one of two session coordinators for the 2008-2009 school year, Nakamura handled the logistics for every orientation program.
"Justin was key to the successful operation of orientation," says Tom Studdert, director of Orientation Programs. "When he was an orientation advisor, I looked to him to help make sure the program was running successfully. As a session coordinator, I knew I could count on him to always get the job done. He is an excellent student leader and a true example of what it means to be a member of the Trojan Family."
Nakamura says one of his favorite aspects of working as an orientation advisor was being part of the orientation team. "It was fun because I got to bond with the other orientation advisors," he says. "We all became really close."