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OPA Bella

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Bella Caldwell
2025&26 Orientation Peer Adviser
*not affiliated with JMU*
@jmuorientation @jmucsm

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Happy belated Weeks of Welcome everyone! 🐸🐸🐸

#frog #ribbit #jmu #weeksofwelcome #fyp

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One more Orientation Weeks of Welcome post!!

Shout out to Bella (my most amazing partner for WOW), our frogs and the Bluestone area! And special shout out to all the SGA members who showed up and out to help welcome the new students!!

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I told this story to my students all summer about how important it is to get involved when you go to college. I remember telling myself that I wasn’t going to do a lot of the things I ended up doing my first year like I wouldn’t join Student Government, wouldn’t be a FROG and I would never be an Orientation Guide.

It’s funny how things work out, because now I can’t imagine my JMU experience without doing any of those things. Every year, JMU has pushed me outside of my comfort zone and into things I never thought I would do, and those experiences are exactly where I found my people, made my best memories, and truly learned how to make the most of my time here. What I didn’t expect was how much of an impact the Orientation office.

During Weeks of Welcome, seeing students I had met during orientation get excited to wave at me, say hi, or come up and talk to me was one of the most rewarding feelings. My biggest goal as an OPA was to be that friendly face they recognized. Knowing they remembered my name and were excited to see me made me realize that maybe I really did make a difference.

This sections for my O-Team because truly don’t know how to put into words how much I love this team other than to say I had the most ELECTRIC summer ever with my slimes! Getting to know each of you, spending hours and hours together learning how we all tick was such a joy. We gave 1000% to every student we met, laughed until we cried, created way too many inside jokes, and somehow became closer through all of it.

Thank you, Orientation & Transition, for giving me an experience I will carry with me for the rest of my time at JMU. Thank you for allowing me to welcome students into the place that has given me so much. And most importantly, thank you for introducing me to some of my best friends and people I know will be in my life for a very, very long time.

I’m so sad I won’t be coming back next year, but I truly believe this was the perfect way to start my senior year. I couldn’t have asked for a better summer, a better team, or better people to share it with.

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Today is my last day being an OPA. I have so much to say but I’ll keep it brief.

Being an OPA has changed my college experience in ways I cannot imagine. If I did not fill out the application to be an OPA, I would not be the person I am today. Orientation has made me more confident in myself, and has brought the kindest souls into my life.

To my GRAIBs, I love you guys so much and genuinely could not imagine how boring my summer would be without you guys in it.

To my FROGs, you have all done such a wonderful job this past week. Saying I’m proud of you just isn’t enough.

To @jmuorientation, I am forever thankful to get this opportunity. I am glad I went to my group interview after being so nervous about it.

A big thank you to everyone I met along the way. Follow my personal instagram to stay in touch! It will be on the last slide with a photo of me from my pep rally my first year.

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HAPPY WOW!!

i had so much fun during weeks of welcome, but it also marks the closing of the 2026 OPA season 😔

thank you opa groups 13, 7, 13, 22, 11, 9, 14, 19, 27, 9, 10, 13, my virtual group, chesapeake frogs, and the entire o-team for making this the most memorable experience!!!

don’t be strangers around campus 💜💛💜💛

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Last day of orientation, thanks to everyone who joined in virtually. Yall were a blast.

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While my time as an OPA isn’t over yet, summer orientation is!

Shout out to my student groups 26, 9 and my virtual group for closing out my orientation summer. I got to also serve on family team one last time before the summer ended!

I couldn’t have asked for a better team to be apart of. This team has provided me with so many memories and life time friendships that i never expected. This team has worked so many hours to welcome over 5,000 in coming first years to campus and i couldn’t be more proud of them and myself for putting in the work.

I love this team and will miss them very much till we get to do our duties again during Weeks of Welcome.

Till then, see you in August JMU!
OPA Abbey out!

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A pretty view for a pretty unforgettable summer 💜🌄

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SHOUTOUT ALL MY STUDENT GROUPS FOR WEEK 3!!! Days 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9 are done and yet again, I had another FIRE collection of students! You guys are the ones that make this job worth it so keep being awesome! If you haven’t attended orientation yet, get hype! Hopefully you’ll be in one of my groups next week 👀👀👀

(Swipe to the end for a very flattering 0.5 of me 😛)

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Day 1.9!!! I had such a g fantastic day with the student group 12! Can’t wait to see all my divas back on campus in August! #day1.9🕺

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Day 1.2!! I could not have asked for a better group to kick off first year orientation with! Thank you to the students of group 21 for making today so fun and memorable!!!
#day1.2 #godukes💜💛

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Happy day of service!! Today me and my fellow OPAs took a day off from orientation and were able to give back to our community by helping clean a local elementary school! I had so much fun and I am so excited to jump back into orientation tomorrow!!!

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