Given the shift to a complete virtual set-up this academic year, the Council of Student Organizations (CSO) and Student Government (SG) pushed through with the first-ever virtual orientation, which they named Animo Lakbay, to usher in the new academic year for the college community, Aug. 19.
According to Ryan Laygo, Vice Chairperson for Professional (PROF) Division of CSO, this year’s orientation is not only for the first year students but is a welcoming event for all Lasallian college students before they venture into their online classrooms.
“We made sure na may mga parts for froshies (freshmen) and may mga parts na makaka-relate ‘yung mga returning Lasallians,” said Laygo.
To further help familiarize incoming students to the new learning set-up of DLSL, both CSO and SG promoted the Borderfree education during the event and delivered concrete information about the different colleges and the school setup this academic year.
“Through this activity, nagkakaroon ng student engagement before opening of classes so mas ma-e-enlighten ‘yung mga students about Borderfree education […] Then dito makikilala nila ‘yung mga deans, college heads and college councils as well,” said SG Executive Vice President Lougine Solis.
For incoming legal management student Audrey Panaligan, the whole concept of Animo Lakbay was fresh and interesting as the organizers were able to present the different college departments of DLSL, as well as the campus spots in a creative manner.
“I thought it would be just another boring, hour-long lecture about all the guidelines of De La Salle Lipa […] I’m glad how Animo Lakbay pleasantly surprised me,” said Panaligan.
Another incoming first year, Alissa Raela, from Bachelor of Arts in Communication, said that the objectives of the orientation were met.
“It may not be the usual froshies’ orientation we usually have, but it was a memorable one […] I highly acknowledge the efforts of all the student leaders for giving us this kind of event,” said Raela.
In spite of holding the orientation online only for the first time, SG and CSO were pleased with the responses received from the students and are thus planning to do the same preparations and utilize the same platforms for other future events and activities.
“We believe that these kinds of platforms and preparations are one of the most effective ways to hold future activities and events while we’re in the new academic setup which is purely online,” said Solis.