Hi…It’s Me Your T-shirt

Submitted By: Naomi Letendre, Area Coordinator, Worcester Polytechnic Institute

Hi!

I wanted to tell you how happy you make us t-shirts every year. It starts with Orientation; when you welcome all the new students back from summer break. I am taken out of the box for the first time, my colors are vibrant and I look great. By September to Mid October I have been worn a lot but I am still going strong. I’m excited when it is homecoming or family day and you need to represent your school by wearing me well. That means pulling me out of the closet, or out from under that piece of residence hall furniture. Yeah I know I make a good mop!

My colors are beginning to fade, but when you put me on we are a team. You, the student leader; I your prize accessory. You know that you worked very hard to get me. You are involved in 5 clubs, you apply to be an orientation leader, or an RA, a tour guide and then finally after all those hours of interviews and group process you get me. Thank you for choosing to wear me; you have chosen to make a difference on your campus. You see I know I am not just some plain old t-shirt; I am hard work, I am a trophy you won when you took on this job or volunteer position.

You wear me well and together we have become partners in making this campus community a better place for your peers. When you go home for the Winter Break you talk about the accomplishments, the great Winter Carnival, The Comedy Show, move in day, and all those exciting things we accomplished together.

Then it is that time again when you must return to campus, to me your T-shirt, to trainings, to jobs, and to all those clubs and organizations you are involved in. It is time to gather old and new friends to start thinking of those fresh ideas that will keep you motivated throughout the end of the year. It is also the time when you need to start thinking about next year.

Themes change and T-shirts fade and though I know the memories of us will be stored in that Rubbermaid container under your residence hall bed, I want to say thanks for choosing me. To some I may be a plain old T-shirt, but to you RA, Student Leader, I am more than cotton 50/50 blend t-shirt. I am an accomplishment.

About the Author

Naomi Letendre is an Area Coordinator at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. At WPI, Naomi is responsible for assisting in the management of the Residential Services program, with primary focus on student and staff development and paraprofessional training. For the past year she has been a member of the WPI Residence Life team. Prior to moving to Residence Life she worked in Student Activities at WPI for two years.