It’s a bright, beautiful day on the campus as the sun casts a soft warmth, but the breeze tugs playfully at my hair as I walk beside Sloane down the tree-lined pathway toward the quad. The freshman mixer was already buzzing ahead of us, filled with unfamiliar faces and way too much forced enthusiasm.

“Remind me again why we’re doing this?” I asked, adjusting my sunglasses as we passed a group handing out bright blue flyers about the sailing club.

“Because freshman orientation is ...