From the moment he walked into his new dorm room to his first breath of crisp September air on the Bruce Trail, Matt Beard has felt at home at Brock University.

The first-year dramatic arts student has quickly settled into his role as a new Badger, with his peers, professors and other members of the Brock community helping with the transition.

The 18-year-old Welland native has taken in the sights and sounds of Brock’s Orientation Week and is making the most of the exhilarating time that is the start of university.

“On my first day, a student volunteer gave me a huge smile and helped me find my way,” said Beard, whose mother Amanda Laprise is Brock’s Brand Engagement Officer. “Everyone here is really friendly, from the new dons in my residence to the professors in my classes.”

It was while entering one of those classes for the first time that he realized he had begun an important new chapter in his life.

“Hearing the ambient chatter and seeing the professor standing at the front of the class was surreal,” he said.

But the experiences have not been limited to the classroom. Beard also enjoyed meeting new people at the O-Week festivities put on for new students by the University’s Orientation Planning Committee.

“The events were so welcoming,” he said. “When you stood by yourself, people would approach you, so that you didn’t necessarily need to be outgoing. It’s important to remember that we are all in the same boat. Everyone wants to get to know each other, and O-Week afforded a lot of different spaces to meet people in a range of inclusive and safe settings, both quiet and loud. It offered much more of a variety than I expected.”

Beard believes both big events and small gestures have allowed him to start his Brock experience on the right foot.

“The paint party was crazy,” he said of the giant Friday-night bash that left students covered in every colour of the rainbow. “But there are little things, too, like the smile from the woman in the cafeteria or making paper airplanes with my professor on the first day of class. All of these things have made me feel at home.”

Brock students Olivia Blevins, Arran Hamilton, Matt Beard and Sammie Marett had a colourful night at Brock University’s O-Week Paint Party on Friday, Sept. 8.

In addition to the welcoming environment at O-Week, Beard also attributed his seamless entrance into university life to attending a Smart Start orientation session this summer.

“It was a huge help in terms of knowing where my classes were,” he said. “It was like a cool trial day, and you can tell that people who attended feel a lot more prepared. My tour guide also gave me some really great advice and we became friends while he helped me navigate the Mackenzie Chown Complex.”

Brock offers three transition programs — Smart Start, LEAP and BaseCamp — intended to help introduce students to University life and to help them find a sense of comfort in their new environment.

In a time filled with excitement and change, Beard has managed to find a sense of calm on campus.

“Every morning, I have been going down to the Bruce Trail,” he said. “That was one of the main reasons I came to Brock. It’s calming to be able to get out into nature so easily while still being on campus.”

While his Brock experience is still in its initial days, Beard hopes to encourage other potential students to take the leap to attend university — not letting nerves stand in the way.

“Your peers feel the same way you do,” he said. “And the professors and staff understand what it’s like to be a first-year student. It’s OK to be nervous, it will be a life-changing experience and there are lots of people who are here to help you succeed.”

For students unaware of the supports available to them on campus, more information is available on the BrockU 4U website.