Orientation is the process of learning about a new place, situation, or role so you can find your way around and understand how things work. When you start at a new school, you might attend an orientation where teachers show you where classrooms are, explain the schedule, and introduce important rules. College freshmen attend orientation to learn about campus buildings, meet other students, and figure out how university life works.

Think of how a hiker uses a compass to orient themself on a trail, or how you might need a moment to get your bearings when you wake up in an unfamiliar room.

Orientation helps you feel less lost and more confident in new situations. Summer camps have orientation sessions. New employees at companies go through job orientation. The goal is always the same: giving people the information and experience they need to succeed in their new environment. After a good orientation, what seemed confusing and overwhelming starts to make sense, and you know where to go and what to do.