By Tyler C. Feole
El Cajon, CALIF. —Freshmen need friends too. Ryan Lynne, a senior at Irvine High School, presented at the November 13th 2024 California State Board of Education meeting in Sacramento. Lynne proposed a state-wide program that Grossmont Community College (Grossmont) had implemented years ago, called First Year Experience(FYE). Ryan proposes it be a state wide effect for High School as well.
The program is a form of buddy system aimed at integrating incoming freshmen into the college experience. FYE matches students with a mentor in a higher class. When you first join, this mentor meets with the student to help them understand how to manage college life. FYE’s benefits are priority registration, peer mentoring, career and personal counseling, and even success workshops!
According to a research study by Michael Graham at the University of Northern Colorado, students have a higher retention rate and GPA in their first semester than those without a peer mentor. The University of Northern Colorado’s study was reported as a success. The resources provided by these programs would be a major advantage for any incoming Freshman at any level, whether High School or College. The ability of a freshman to have a mentor who’s gone through a similar experience enables them to be better prepared for school and readily equipped to handle the challenges that may come with their first year at any level.
Luke Marano, a last year Grossmont student, agreed he would have benefited from such a program his Freshmen year. Although the FYE has been around since the 1970’s he was unaware of its existence in his Freshman year. When asked how it would help him he replied, “FYE would have helped me get on top of the things I needed to do during my Freshman year. I had no idea the difference between jumping from high school and college so I was not prepared. Knowing that there was a program out there that could have helped me get more comfortable at a quicker rate while also meeting new people, would have been amazing!”
In hindsight, although we have a similar program to Ryan’s, FYE. It is important to note that things can always be improved. As The University of Northern Colorado study has shown, it is effective to have a mentor. But it goes beyond something so simple and Ryan’s presentation helped me understand that. It is not something so simple as improving GPA or retention rate, but also to improve young adults’ and students’ mental health. Whether that be anxiety, depression or any other mental health issues. Sometimes all you need is a buddy to put you on the straight and narrow path. Sometimes we need a buddy to help us through it all.
Works Cited
California Department of Education,. “State Board of Education Meeting November 13, 2024.” YouTube, YouTube, 19 Nov. 2024, www.youtube.com/watch?v=fi3Uqs6KLgE&list=PLgIRGe0-q7Safim1TwdTNlcV7auIbigPr.
Graham, Michael, et al. “Enhancing Student Outcomes: Peer Mentors and … – Eric.” Enhancing Student Outcomes: Peer Mentors and Student Transition, University of Northern Colorado , 2022, files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1363722.pdf.
Luke Marano, luke.marano@yahoo.com
