Yadir Hannon Velazquez, Molly Moczygemba and TJ Eaglin reflect on their first week of school and share tips they’ve learned along the way.
Hey Red Raiders!
Your favorite Texas Tech Youtubers want to give you a few tips on Raider Welcome.
Raider Welcome is a time of fun and free events designed to welcome new and returning students to campus. Raider Welcome starts with residence hall move-in and continues throughout the first week of classes.
As an incoming student, making new friends can be intimidating, especially in a new environment. We can all relate to the first day of classes when everyone is trying to act cool with the “I'm too old for this” attitude. But the reality is, everyone is going through the same thing!
When I (Yadir) first arrived at Texas Tech, I was excited to start classes and make new friends, but I was stuck in my shell. I decided to check Snap-maps (Snapchat's map feature) to see what was going on in the area. That's when I saw a volleyball game in Urbanovsky Park. While I'm not a pro volleyball player, I decided it was a good way to meet new people and familiarize myself with campus. Everyone on the volleyball courts was very welcoming (they were also good at volleyball; I was humbled fast) and as we played, many other students joined.
While you may not make friends immediately, pushing yourself out of your comfort zone and reaching out to people is a great step toward finding your squad. Raider Welcome is one of most activity-filled weeks in the semester and is made for you to branch out. Here are a few ways to make the most of it!
Do's and Don'ts of Raider Welcome
- Do plan which events you want to attend.
Raider Welcome has a ton of events, so make sure to check the list and see which ones you want to attend. From pasta lunch with RISE to game night at Urbanovsky Park, this week has a little bit of everything! - Don't skip every event.
Ummm, big no-no! This is the best time to be a student (apart from basketball games). Even if you're not a social butterfly, this is the best time to get out of your comfort zone and meet people. You don't have to hit every event but try picking out one or two that sound interesting to you. You've got this! - Do show up on time.
On the Raider Welcome website, you can find a schedule with all the times, locations, sponsors and descriptions of events. Many events offer free shirts, Texas Tech swag and food! By arriving late, you may miss some of the freebies. - Don't stay on your phone the whole time.
We are talking headphones also – you don't want to close yourself off from everyone else. Also, if your phone dies you won't be able to add people on Snapchat or get their socials. - Do connect with organizations and clubs.
Raider Welcome is one of the best ways to connect with organizations and clubs you're interested in joining. This is a great time to meet their officers and leaders. Make sure you know your Texas Tech email in case you get the opportunity to join! - Don't dress uncomfortably.
Texas Tech is a very large campus, so it doesn't hurt to have a good pair of walking shoes on as you walk between events. Also, it's still summer, and you're in Texas – it's hot! It's not a bad idea to keep a water bottle with you.
We hope you have an amazing Raider Welcome experience. For more ideas and information, follow our student engagement channel on YouTube.
Welcome to Texas Tech!
