By Sarah Davis | Echo
For seven weeks, you've been a beloved member of a color-coded and numbered family. You've faithfully gathered to play weird games, talk about your transition to college and discuss your many, many reflection papers. You've studied Taylor's history and mission statement and slowly gained confidence in spelling the name "Bonhoeffer."
Establishing the O-Group dynamic is a process. You become acquaintances through the awkwardness of unfamiliarity. In the realization that you actually look forward to your time together, you become friends. And in the painful discovery that O-Group ends halfway through the semester, you realize you are family.
Every group is different. Some O-Groups break up with subtle waves and "see-you-laters." Some O-Groups gather in relieved hugs, happy to be done with a class. And other groups can't let go-blowing up their group message with broken heart emojis and promises of continued hangouts.
But now, whether you've had a weird or wonderful time, the end of O-Group brings another transition.
If you've found yourself with an O-shaped hole in your heart, please know, dear freshman, you are not alone. I'd even venture to say this heartbreak is a valuable part of transitioning to Taylor. But, if you are mourning life post-O-Group, here are a few ideas to help you cope with the loss:
1. Continue to make unlikely friends
Chances are you would never have made the friends you did had it not been for the sweet randomness of O-Group. Being placed with complete strangers required you to work to find connections, and that's the awkward beauty of it. Seek people outside of your immediate circle. Befriend people outside your major or wing. Sometimes having nothing in common is a great thing to have in common.
2. Meet with your O-Leaders
Your O-Leaders like you a lot. If you ask them to hang out, it is almost guaranteed they will say yes. Encourage them, update them on your life and just get to know them. They're only a year or two older than you, and they're not in the business of turning down friends. Sure, you may have moved on from O-Group, but you can still visit your parents once in awhile.
3. Read more Bonhoeffer
You think I'm kidding, but I'm really not. "Life Together" is a helpful tool for learning how to live well within a Christian community, but you can also look into his classic "The Cost of Discipleship." The book is a commentary on the value of grace and the relationship between ourselves and the teachings of Christ. Bonhoeffer also wrote books about creation, prayer, martyrdom, the Psalms and his time in prison. So the next time you find yourself missing O-Group, pick up a Bonhoeffer book and reminisce. You could even write a reflection. Send it to Shawnda; make her day.
4. Write thank you notes
Speaking of Shawnda, another coping mechanism could be channeling your depression into encouragement. Shawnda Freer and Scott Gaier teach the First Year class and work tirelessly to help freshman transition into Taylor smoothly. So if you're feeling sad about O-Group ending, that means you probably had a pretty good time. Let Shawnda or Scott know. Send them an email or slip a note under their office doors. Thank your O-Group leaders too. If there are certain people who made your O-Group experience the best, tell them so.
5. Think about applying to be an O-Leader
If the thought of never being in O-Group again seems too painful to bear, take comfort in knowing it doesn't have to end here. Applications don't come out until spring, but consider being an O-Group leader for next year. An O-Group-er who had a great experience already has a great platform for leadership. So think it over. Your O-Group career may just be starting.
6. Don't be a stranger
If your fellow O-Group members are missing each other, plan something fun to do together. Over this past half-semester you've probably gotten pretty good at circling up; why not meet together on campus for old times' sake? But if scheduling O-Group reunions is too difficult, at least keep being kind and saying "hi." Otherwise, you'll just have a bunch of awkward acquaintances around campus. Nobody wants that.
7. Pray for your O-Group family
If you're thinking of them, pray for them. If you love them like family, pray for them like family. And even if you don't like them that much, you can still pray for them.
Like all good things, O-Group comes to an end. However motley your O-Group was, dealing with the loss of the crew can be hard. So here's to hoping these ideas help you through this tragic transition. It may be difficult to see now, but there is life after O-Group.
