Why You Should Actually Read Your Book from Orientation

When you first come to BU, everything will be overwhelming. You’ll see and meet hundreds of people and remember just a small fraction of their names. You’ll be bombarded by hundreds of campus groups at SPLASH! and be faced with deciding which ones you actually want to keep receiving emails from. For some, finding their “people” takes no time at all, while others may struggle to find their place and fit in – and that’s okay. All college freshmen share similar experiences, and to help you assimilate, Dean Elmore arranged for all 2019 orientation sessions to receive the self-exploration book Belong.

Written by Radha Agrawal, Belong teaches readers how to do exactly that. As stated in the book, Agrawal’s “goal is to give you the blueprint to build and nurture your own community from scratch, so you find happiness, fulfillment, and success” (Agrawal 15). The book is split into two parts: Going IN, which focuses on the development of your inner self through a discussion of self-awareness, intention, and energy, and Going OUT, which focuses on finding the right community for you. 

A notable part of the book is Agrawal’s discussion of how our brain chemistry relates to the amount of energy we have. Understanding this chemistry is crucial, as you’ll need to maintain a clear head and stay energized in a fast-paced high-stress environment such as academia at BU. Another notable section introduces the concept of “community confusion” and the toll social media can take on us. While these platforms provide us with the opportunity to connect with people all over the world, their use results in limited emotional connection, causing many to feel lonely despite the illusion of connection.

An important piece of advice that’s constantly repeated at BU is to take advantage of every opportunity afforded to you, and this book provides one of those opportunities. The next time you find yourself with a little downtime, give the book a try.

by Sara Hernandez, Questrom ’21