Written by Stephanie Viloria
Reporter
California State University, Bakersfield celebrated their second annual Freshman Letter Day that was held at the Student Union Patio on Wed., Oct. 15 to pass out letters to this year’s new student freshmen.
The Student Union Patio invited freshmen to collect their letters with the scent of free lunch wafting through campus. Freshmen bonded over hotdogs, hamburgers, chips and lemonade while they eagerly opened up their letters.
Emily Poole, Director of Campus Programming, coordinated this event and explained that Freshman Letter Day is all about providing encouragement to students getting used to the whole college experience.
“Studies show that right around midterms and their first quarter or semester, [freshmen] begin to start doubting themselves or get homesick, so they need that extra boost,” said Poole. She further explained that the campus strives for student success.
“We want to show [freshmen] we are a campus supporting their endeavors. It’s a huge step for students going from high school to college, or to go back to college.”
The letters are written by faculty, students, staff, and family members of freshmen to give out during this event. Within these letters are messages of support and love while they brave this new stage in their lives.
Magali Franco, a senior human biology major, helped pass out the large array of letters to the freshmen. She shares a story about a student that received 20 letters from his friends and family from Oakland, CA that morning. “He felt so happy because they still remembered him,” the 21 year-old senior said.
Franco expresses that she would have liked to have had this event when she was a freshman, but she is glad to be a part of it all. “I’m lending the words of encouragement that I would have wanted as a freshmen to them,” said Franco.
Even for the freshmen who couldn’t make it, the event also provides a delivery system so the letters go to them, no matter what.
“I didn’t get my letter, but they told me that they’d be able to get it to me in class,” said Mirella Diaz, 19 year-old freshman. She came to the event to pick up her letter and some free food but was unable to receive it. Despite this setback, she expressed that she was looking forward to reading the encouraging message inside. “I’m enjoying college so far,” Diaz briefly commented of her freshman experience.
Time passed, the crowds died down and the letters were moved into the Student Union. They were made available for pick-up until 10pm that night. For the freshmen who were able to take part in this event, the most important take-away for them was discovering that people are behind them during this exciting and challenging experience of going to college.
