{"id":23008,"date":"2024-08-29T10:54:55","date_gmt":"2024-08-29T14:54:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/?p=23008"},"modified":"2024-08-29T10:54:57","modified_gmt":"2024-08-29T14:54:57","slug":"nervous-never-fear-first-year-mentors-are-here","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.kzoo.edu\/news\/nervous-never-fear-first-year-mentors-are-here\/","title":{"rendered":"Nervous? Never Fear, First-Year Mentors Are Here"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
\n
\n

The first steps students take on campus at Kalamazoo College are filled with excitement and anticipation for what lies ahead. Yet being away from home for the first time can be challenging, too, especially when longtime friends, family members and other sympathetic voices seem far away.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Economics and business majors<\/a> Sage Lewis and Michael Robertson, both Class of 2025, know what that\u2019s like. As first-year students, Sage arrived at K from Arizona and Michael from Tennessee. As a result of their experiences\u2014and because they care about their peers\u2014the two are among 23 helpful First-Year Experience<\/a> (FYE) mentors, one transfer student mentor and one visiting international student mentor this fall, who will get to know incoming students from their first day of orientation<\/a> onward through the academic year.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As new students arrive for orientation, FYE mentors<\/a>\u2014consisting of sophomores, juniors and seniors\u2014get to know them while building community and friendships, so everyone can feel safe and comfortable in their new environment. Sage, Michael and the other FYE mentors will be available at every stage of orientation with activities ranging from traditional icebreakers, meals, discussions about academic life, a game night and home athletics<\/a> events to learning about music ensembles<\/a>, theatre<\/a> groups and sustainability-focused opportunities<\/a> on campus.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"First-Year
First-Year Experience mentors Sage Lewis and Michael Robertson are two of the 23 helpful students mentors, one transfer student mentor and one visiting international student mentor this fall, who will get to know incoming students.<\/figcaption><\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

One FYE mentor is also assigned to each First-Year Seminar<\/a> course, providing an experienced peer, who can guide students through academic, social and personal issues as they arise day or night. First-Year Seminar courses are part of the K-Plan<\/a><\/em>, K\u2019s liberal arts and sciences curriculum. The courses are designed to help orient students to college-level learning practices, combining collaborative and group work, effective research strategies and discussions with mentors maintaining formal roles as contacts through Week Six of the fall term. As FYE mentors, Sage and Michael have a few tips to offer new students as they begin orientation:<\/p>\n\n\n\n