Natalie Gonzalez joined the ITS Communications team as a student worker in June. In this first-person piece, she discusses the assistance she received from ITS during her orientation at UNC-Chapel Hill.
Attending college for the first time promises thrilling opportunities, people and discoveries. However, with any new experience comes a sense of unfamiliarity that can be daunting to an incoming student. As a rising first-year, my summer has been consumed by countless questions about navigating a new school. I found that my orientation at UNC-Chapel Hill helped ease my apprehensions, especially because of the support I received from ITS.
The pickup process
When I checked in on campus, I learned my CCI laptop was ready for pickup at the Student Stores. I decided to buy a computer through the Carolina Computing Initiative because I loved its support package; I wanted peace of mind that if anything ever happened to my computer, ITS could be my lifeline. Although I had recently joined ITS as a student worker, I still had no idea what to expect as a customer of our services. Luckily, months of anticipation for my own computer were rewarded by the seamlessness of my experience. Along with distributing my laptop quickly, the ITS staff provided me with detailed information on things like my protection plan and warranty. I can only imagine the next four years as a whirlwind of change, so it was comforting to know I had a computer that would support me along the way.
Once I received my laptop, I began setting up my CCI computer. Truthfully, tech-related tasks often feel intimidating to me, so my main concern was configuring the settings correctly. Even beyond my work in ITS, I was genuinely delighted with how easygoing the experience was — and no, my bosses didn’t tell me to write that. My lingering questions were matched with a supportive staff, who patiently walked me through the set-up process. Moreover, my interactions with ITS staff were some of the first encounters I had on campus. Their kindness helped transform a once overwhelming setting into an atmosphere I felt included in.
Getting started
For the next 24 hours, I attended varied group sessions to prepare me for the upcoming semester. ITS services became foundational when my group was instructed to walk through class registration. To learn ConnectCarolina, I needed to access eduroam and connect to the internet. Thankfully, ITS’ Getting Started Guide provided all of the resources I needed in one place. Within moments, my Wi-Fi was running and I felt fully prepared to navigate registration. Amid absorbing so much new information, I was relieved to have a laptop and easy-access Wi-Fi.
Ultimately, the guidance I received from other students, professors and staff ignited me with endless amounts of excitement for my Fall semester. However, it was the valuable support from ITS that truly contributed to my newfound confidence. I’m grateful for the foundation ITS provided me with and am happy to have left orientation knowing all my tech needs are taken care of.
Natalie Gonzalez is a rising first-year student at Carolina who is pursuing a double major in media and journalism and business. Gonzalez’s passions lie in any outlet where she gets to be creative; she enjoys writing, graphic design and photography. During her four years at high school, Gonzalez loved being involved within her community, and she looks forward to doing the same at UNC-Chapel Hill. She wants to continue to connect with new people, develop her skills and make the most of her time at Carolina. 
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