Revolutionary Tales: Orientation Leader McKenzie Young Knows a Good Story When She Sees One
Revolutionary Tales: Orientation Leader McKenzie Young Knows a Good Story When She Sees One
The aspiring journalist and longtime dancer spent the summer sharing her passion for GW with the university’s newest students.
Story // Nick Erickson
Video & Photos // Cara Taylor
George Washington University sophomore McKenzie Young has always been a storyteller.
Sometimes, as she has done since the age of 3 when her mother first signed her up for lessons, she tells them through dance, letting the movement and rhythm set the scene and convey a message. Other times, the aspiring broadcast journalist uses words both written and spoken to chronicle the world around her.
No matter the medium, the Chicago native has a passion for connecting people through ideas and experiences.
This summer, Young was tasked with combining a little bit of everything to tell the story of a place she is especially passionate about: GW.
As a new student orientation leader (OL), Young assisted incoming students in getting accustomed to the university community while sharing her own narrative of being a student at GW. OLs are the first connection point for many and a first opportunity for the institution to be represented from a student lens.
And for the journalist-to-be, it’s an on-the-job training for telling a story of connection.
“As an OL, I feel like I'm working toward a greater purpose,” said Young, who is studying at GW’s School of Media and Public Affairs. “It's not just about getting students acclimated, it's about creating a lasting impact. If I can impact just one person or one family member, I know I did my job right.”
Since launching the new summer model in 2025, multiple two-day new student orientation sessions are offered in June and July. (There is also a final session for international students at the end of August right before the semester starts, and a session just for incoming transfer students.) There, incoming students hear from representatives from various campus offices and learn about the university’s many resources, all while building community with one another, so they can come back a month later prepared to navigate the fall semester.
OLs guide those students through the experience. The days are both sprints and marathons for OLs, who wear their proverbial ambassador hats at all times to generate enthusiasm for incoming students, many of whom are preparing to move away from home for the first time.
“Our hope and goal—and really none of this happens without our student leaders to begin with—is that folks feel comfortable and confident coming back to campus in August,” said Emilee Saigh, assistant director of orientation and class years programs in the Division for Student Affairs. “Orientation leaders have such a heavy lift, not just in guiding them through the program but really carrying the energy and the compassion of interacting with these folks.”
During the summer’s final orientation session, Young led a small group activity where she had new students sit in a circle to ask her questions about navigating their first fall at GW, enabling her to relay her experiences from the year before as a source of quick connection.
Fittingly, the setting for that was in a dance studio.
Falling in love with GW
At this time two years ago, Young probably would have looked confused if she had been told she’d be spending summer 2026 as an OL at GW.
In high school, Young earned admittance to the Chicago Scholars program, which provides high-achieving students in the city with development and mentorship opportunities. As part of the program, Young had to apply to one university outside the schools she was already considering. Her counselor suggested GW because of its journalism program.
“I was like, ‘I don't really know what GW is, but I'll just apply.’ I did very, very minimal research,” Young said. “I swear, the only thing I knew about GW was that it was in D.C.”
Almost forgetting she applied, she received her acceptance letter and with it an invitation to one of the university’s admitted student days, Inside GW, where she would check out campus along with other admitted students.
While being fairly set on some of her other choices, she figured it couldn’t hurt to check out another school and flew to D.C. for the weekend.
It took less than a day for her to reverse course.
“I remember literally the afternoon after Inside GW, I went to the Campus Store with my parents, and I was like, ‘We need to pick up that yard sign because I have to go here,’” Young said. “I don't want to sound corny, but I just fell in love with GW.”
Her own orientation last summer was highly impactful, even if the excursion seems more like a blur at this point.
“I remember the night of our first day at orientation that we all went monumenting, which is kind of a canon event that all GW students go through,” Young said. “It was a group of, like, 20 girls. I didn't even know all of their names yet. I was just so excited to be there with them.”
What Young remembers most about her orientation was how much her curiosity had been piqued. Not only about the school—and city—she would soon be calling home a month later. But about orientation itself.
“Seeing what the orientation leaders did and how they impacted me definitely solidified my choice,” Young said.
Soon after she arrived back to GW for the start of the 2025-2026 academic year, she was determined to be one herself.
Telling GW’s story
Young wasted little time getting involved on campus, joking that she has always tried to bite off more than she can chew. In addition to her classes and living the Mount Vernon campus life to the fullest, Young became an executive board member for the Black Student Union and, harkening back to her roots, she also successfully auditioned for the First Ladies, GW’s official dance team that performs at men’s and women’s basketball games.
Later in the fall, she received an application link to be an OL for summer 2026. And she knew she wanted to take another bite out of her GW apple.
“I really wanted to help foster that same curiosity that I had during my orientation,” Young said. “Looking back, I just really wanted to help people. I feel like that's just who I am. I love helping and mentoring people in general. Any questions that you may have, please ask.”
Just be prepared to pull up a chair and stay for a while if you ask her why she loves GW.
That enthusiasm for the university served her well during the lengthy interview process required of OL applications. And once she found out in late November that she had been hired—a moment of elation, it was right to work.
OLs begin preparing months before welcoming new students to GW.
In January, they return early from winter break for a one-day orientation for transfer students, their first hands-on experience leading orientation.
Then, during the spring semester, they meet weekly on Mondays focusing on leadership development, self-reflection and conflict resolution. They also must have a deep working knowledge of the university so they are prepared to answer any and all questions first-year students and their families may have.
In late May, OLs move into Thurston Hall to complete a two-week “boot camp.” They learn how to work with students and families, facilitate icebreakers, navigate logistics and lead other aspects of the program.
And then, cue the music for showtime.
The four summer sessions run in consecutive weeks, each spanning nearly nonstop from Sunday night until Tuesday evening. For OLs, each three-day experience is a mix of preparation, programming, relationship-building and plenty of energy. And perhaps of caffeine to aid that.
On Sunday, OLs welcome early-arriving students to Thurston, helping them settle in and leading games and informal activities over pizza. It’s a chance to start building enthusiasm before the official programming begins.
Monday begins around 6 a.m. for OLs with setup and student check-in. They direct students and families, help with the resource fair, lead small-group sessions and activities such as “GW 101” trivia, panels, campus tours and family activities. They teach students GW traditions, including the fight song and cheers, and lead evening reflection sessions. The longest day of orientation wraps up with Late Night at the Rec, where OLs run activities such as laser tag and silent disco and connect with students in a more relaxed setting in Lerner Health and Wellness Center.
To conclude the session on Tuesday, OLs continue leading small groups, answering students’ questions, supporting academic sessions and helping students navigate campus resources.
Despite the long hours, the team—which Young said became incredibly tight-knit during their nine months together—bonds over its mission of making incoming students feel excited about GW.
“Having that shared purpose is kind of our guiding light. We all know our ‘why,’” said Young, who also joined Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, last spring. “We know why we're here, and because of that, we're able to be there for one another.”
And in turn, OLs such as Young, who are often the first faces incoming students see and remember, serve as walking, even dancing, billboards for the university.
“We view OLs as one of the first opportunities for students to see themselves here, whether that is in terms of identities or experiences or whatever kinds of involvements they have on campus,” Saigh said.
“I think students like McKenzie are not only a really good reminder for staff why we do this work, but they're also really wonderful stewards of the work to future OLs as well.”
Young wrote in her own GW application essay that her chosen field of study—journalism—and her first true love—dance—both have the power to bond people.
Whether through spoken word or movement, a story elicits stronger emotion and connection when it’s told passionately. Young knows no other way, which is exactly how she portrayed GW to its newest students all summer.
“I feel like GW is a place like no other. I just love it here so much,” she said. “I'm super passionate about GW, and I think you will be, too.”