In speaking to Danielle Goldsby about having the opportunity to work as a 2009 Orientation Team Leader, she had many positive things to say about the program and how it has helped her. Ms. Goldsby stated that the OTL process and position allowed her to see the endless possibilities and exciting resources on campus which are available to all students. It also enabled her to interact with many diverse student organizations.
She felt that the exposure it gave her and the discipline which the process taught her helped to empower her to help people around her, both those serving on the Orientation team and the students and families that she interacted with. It taught her that USF is a community, which she has become quite fond of over the years. By understanding and wanting to help the community around her, she feels that is what helped her to become a leader. This experience further influenced her continual work ethic in what she is involved in now.
In looking at what Ms. Goldsby has been involved with after completing the Orientation Team Leader process, she stated that she is currently in an accelerated Master’s program. She wants to teach high school foreign language and English as a second language. She also wants to help her students that were a part of her team throughout the summer and empower them to be leaders and active community members in the same way that the OTL position helped her.
Dan Shelnutt was a member of the 2007 Orientation Team Leader and had these insights to share on how the position helped him succeed in his endeavors during his time at the University of South Florida, as well as at the University of South Carolina, where he currently works as a part of the Master’s program.