First Connection Mentor

Transitions are hard especially when you're navigating a new country, a new culture, or being the first in your family to go to college. As a First Connection mentor, I helped incoming students find their footing before campus got overwhelming.
First Connection is a pre-orientation program that celebrates and supports students from underrepresented backgrounds: African American, Latinx, Indigenous, LGBTQ+, First Generation, and International communities. I guided new students through cultural orientation sessions, helped them understand the unwritten rules of college life, and reminded them they belonged here because I knew what it felt like to wonder if I did.
The work was part cheerleader, part translator, part older sibling. I answered questions about everything from dining hall etiquette to navigating homesickness, facilitated conversations about identity and community, and connected students to resources before they even knew they'd need them. Watching them go from nervous and uncertain to confident and connected reminded me why representation and mentorship matter.