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OPA Roland

@roland.opa

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2025 & 2026 Orientation Peer Advisor
Junior Political Science Major
*Not an official JMU account*

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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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Wrapping up my time in Orientation,

Thank you JMU Orientation and Transition for giving me this amazing opportunity to be an OPA!! What I would do to do this again🥲

Ended Weeks of Welcome (WOW) yesterday!! Shoutout to my amazing partner OPA Malachi @malsaysgodukes I seriously couldn’t have done this without him. My other Hillside OPA’s, Caroline and Alyssa. HUGEEEEEE shoutout to the McGraw Long and Bell Hall FROGs, you all made this experience so much more positive, love the energy y’all brought.

To my best friend and random roommate first year, Sadie, who saw how much I loved being a FROG who had to experience it for herself. I love you so much and so grateful you could join me in this experience. Here’s to our last year together 💜

To my FROGs and students, don’t be a stranger, say hi on campus, you can always reach out to me whenever! I appreciate you all!

To the 2026 OPA’s, I truly couldn’t have done it without each and every single one of you. Waking up at 5am over the summer and bringing the energy every day of Orientation, to Weeks of Welcome training several FROGs!! My favorite co-workers and now friends.

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that’s a wrap on weeks of welcome 2026!! my heart is so full for this incredible team of FROGs i had the pleasure of working with in chandler hall! also so grateful to have had the pleasure of working with OPAs Roland and Kathleen for these past few weeks! i cannot wait to see everyone on campus 💜💛

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Just completed my last summer being an OPA. I want to thank both of the teams I was a part of and all of the friends I made along the way.

I wanted to leave a message to all of the students I have had. I will always be here for you if you need me please still reach out and say hi to me in the halls. I do have a bit of advice to give from my time in this role if you are willing to take it. It’s about finding your real friends. It may not always be easy making those friends that feel like family but here are a few things to look for: they defend you when no one is watching, they don’t assume they inquire, and last of all they make you feel like a kid again.

I know we always preach stepping out of your comfort zone and believe it or not I practice what I preach. That was this job for me. I encourage all of you to take the things you don’t love about yourself and turn them into things that make others feel safe. I’m here for you and JMU is too!!! Thank you @jmuorientation

- Bella

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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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And that's a wrap on weeks of welcome training! 🐸 Can't wait see to everyone in these next couple of days!!! #opa #jmu #frog #weeksofwelcome #welcomeweek

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officially ready for WEEKS OF WELCOME!! cannot wait to see all of our new dukes moving in to CHANDLER HALL. me and the other OPAs have been prepping to see you and cannot wait! stay on the lookout for me, OPA Roland and OPA Kathleen around Chandler Hall and get excited to meet your incredible CHANDLER FROGS🐸🐸

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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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Hey It’s Fred ft. Duke Dog from a Good Samaritan to Breaking Rules on last 2 slides

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Day 1.15 and OPA summer is over ☹️
I'm so grateful to have been able to spend my summer with such an amazing team and getting to meet so many amazing new students. It's been such an amazing opportunity getting to become friends with everyone and get to see everyone grow into even better people. See you all again in August!

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Not one to let traditions die, Thank you for an amazing Summer JMU 💜

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