Meet the Orientation Office Team: Lindsey

Hello everyone and welcome to PSU!

Whether you are a new freshman, a transfer student, or a returning student, you’re about to start an exciting new chapter. Your years at Portland State will be full of opportunities and experiences that will help shape your future. I just graduated from Portland State with my Bachelors in Political Science and I am off to Virginia for law school next fall. As a recent graduate of PSU, I can look back over the last four years and specifically identify the events that have contributed to where I am now.

My freshman year, I was involved with student government on campus and as a student senator I had the opportunity to go to Washington, DC for the United State Student Association’s annual Legislative Conference. At LegCon I got to meet students from all over the country, learn about the important legislation in the US Congress concerning higher education, and attend meetings on Capitol Hill with Oregon Representatives and Senators.

As an appropriate bookend to this early experience, as a senior I interned with the Senate Majority Leader in the Oregon State Legislature. As an intern I helped write issue briefs, I attended committee hearings, and I dealt with constituent inquiries. Working in Salem gave me a first-hand look at the kind of work that I plan on doing when I finish law school.

No matter what you plan on studying, there are endless opportunities for hands-on learning in all fields at PSU. As a Geology major you can sample soils on Mt. Tabor; Criminology students can intern for the District Attorney; if you’re Pre-Med, you can take a field trip to the Oregon Health Sciences University cadaver lab…... I can’t emphasize enough how important it is to get out of the classroom occasionally to experience the practical applications of your academic learning.

Enjoy your time at PSU!
Lindsey

Meet Your Orientation Team: Jeff

Welcome to PSU. My name is Jeff. I’m a first year Orientation Leader and in the fall, I’ll be a senior majoring in Business Administration where my focuses are Information Systems and Finance. I’ve just finished my first year at PSU and it has been a remarkable journey so far and can’t wait for next year to start. If you can tell I did not start out at PSU as freshman student. I actually attended Clackamas Community College for two years to get a lot of my prerequisites done for the School Business and general requirements. Community college was interesting but I would not compare it to a University like PSU. There are their similarities but think I have enjoyed the university style much more.

One situation that comes to mind a lot when going to PSU is being able to travel efficiently between classes and getting round Portland. As a commuter student that travels from Oregon City everyday, I always have to plan some extra time into my schedule to either ride the bus into Portland or drive and park. As many of PSU students do not live on campus, they all have to deal with this little problem. One thing to notice is that PSU is a Urban University smack down in the middle of Portland, which is nice because it lies in the middle of Fareless Square, where you can ride the Street Car, Max or the TriMet buses for free. Even if you are outside of Portland like I am, PSU transportation offers discounted TriMet passes and if you still have to park, they also offer parking permits. If driving or bussing to campus is not your thing, many students do walk or even bike to campus. PSU has done so much to offer its students many options of being efficient in getting around on and off campus.

Although I’m a full time student, an Orientation Leader and Student Assistant in the Orientation/Campus Visit office, I still enjoy helping out and volunteering with such causes as Boy Scouts and the American Cancer Society’s Relay for Life in Oregon City. Everyone has a voice, it is just how you use it to help others makes a great big difference in someone’s life. Like many of my co-workers have said, getting involved is key in making college a fun journey.

Enjoy college for all it can be. Trust me. It is a remarkable journey in life.

Jeff
Orientation Leader

Meet Your Orientation Team: Yazmin

PSU is green, active, and colorful in diferent times of the year. I have lots of places I go to study and have fun at the same time.

I recommend students get involved because it is a way to start meeting new people and learning a new perspective. PSU is a rich diversity of students so we can find any culture, language, and any lifestyle of another country, in PSU, without getting out of Portland. I am a person who loves sports and nature.

If I have to recommend something to a new student, it will be to never let go their dreams and goals because they are what makes their everyday life.

Yazmin
Orientation Leader

Meet Your Orientation Team: Joshua

Hello my name is Joshua Griggs and this is my first year as an orientation leader. Welcome to the Viking community at PSU. I was born and raised for the majority of my life in Portland OR. A year ago I graduated from Benson Polytechnic High school in Photography and Video Production. I will be a sophomore next year pursuing a major in Communications, with a minor in Business, which will prepare me to get my master's degree in Social Work Administration.

It was during a summer experience I had, that finalize PSU as the college I wanted to attend. I chose PSU because of it nationally-recognized Business program, and its diverse background of cultures. Before I stepped a foot on campus, I had no idea what I was getting myself into. I heard all about how difficult college was, and how much more studying you do then in high school. I told myself, this is your opportunity to make another one of your dreams turn into your reality. Get in those books and work hard. That is exactly what I did. I spent a lot of time in the library, University Studies computer labs, and in the Educational Opportunity Program making college work for me, and trying to excel in my studies.

One thing that keeps me motivated in college is being involved. During fall and winter term I interned for ASPSU student government where I was apart of getting 3500 students registered to vote and an event called “Breaking Down the Barriers.” I believe that you have to give back to those who've helped you make it this far. Those activities fulfilled who I am as an individual.

I want to leave off with this, the greatest pleasure in the world is being doubted by someone and celebrating your victory when you’ve made it to the top. I was doubted many times, and still am being doubted, but only I can choose what my future will be.

Joshua

Orientation Leader