This week, I am participating in the Bridge to Success program at Rider University, which helps incoming freshmen adjust to life at college a week before everyone else moves back into school. So far, though the job requires a lot of walking in the heat, I am finding it to be a rewarding experience and also a unique one. Not many people can say that they helped incoming freshmen be a guide and a mentor to them. With the help of a great staff, who all want to see the growth of each individual and the scenarios and planning required for this job, it has been extremely gratifying thus far.
Slowly, because there are about 52 students, I am learning about the different backgrounds and experiences of each student. Some students are fairly close to Rider, and actually live in Lawrenceville. Other locations include Illinois and California, where students really wanted a whole new experience and came here for their undergraduate program. We also have a significant amount of athletes, who each are unique and bring another new perspective to the program. Most of the athletes come from a basketball background, playing the popular sport in high school and continuing it in college. Overall, the perspectives make the experience refreshing and uniquely cultural for a private university, and internationally friendly community for countries all over the world.
Along with the students getting a chance to move in early and get the feel for the dorms for everyone else, they also are getting a chance to experience freshmen class settings before all the other freshmen come into school. Bridge to Success introduces different professors with different teaching styles and incorporates them into a tutor/mentor relationship. I get a chance to guide these students in experiencing different academic settings, along with a chance for the student to improve their writing skills by creating and submitting a reflection paper at the end of the week, on Friday. The class subjects differ each year, depending on how the teacher wants to teach the material and what material they specialize in. This year included political science and writing skills, to help the mentee improve their confidence levels. Also, the mentee receives homework to simulate an actual college setting.
In conclusion, I really feel that I am making a difference being here with the freshmen before everyone else. To have the ability to help someone and share your own experiences with them when you were a freshman, really is a pleasure and rewarding experience, and to be able to meet new people and form new relationships is priceless.
