FroshMemo Issue 35 Fall '21

Hello Gators and happy November!

Welcome to the first New Student and Family Programs FroshMemo of November! This article features a number of great resources offered on campus, some insight on SFSU events that took place this semester, as well as some tips to help de-stress after midterms. We hope the information presented in this memo helps you through your time as a student at SFSU. Best of luck as we enter the last stretch of the semester! Go Gators! 

 

Gator Tails of a Transfer Student: A Letter to Our Freshmen by Fabian Cruz

Special Thanks to Giselle Peralta.

Attending San Francisco State University allows students to explore their identities among a diverse city population. Students also come to college to pursue their passions, expand their knowledge, and follow their career paths. To help students accomplish these goals, the campus offers a plethora of resources. However, students often miss or skip out on these opportunities. As a transfer student who has learned how to navigate and seek these resources, I strongly encourage incoming and first year students to take advantage of what our school has to offer. There are Fellowships, Internships, Scholarships, and Research Opportunities that are offered here at San Francisco State University, yet these resources often go unnoticed! There is also a sense of fear and doubt in some when it comes to applying for these resources. But I am here to tell you that you are more than capable of attaining them! As my words of advice, have courage and step out of your comfort zone. You’ll be surprised by what you can accomplish.

With the help of the amazing EOP Peer Mentor, Giselle Peralta, the following provides further information on the type of resources that will help you along your academic and career path:

What is a Fellowship?

Fellowships are an investment in a person (a scholar, artist, or future professional) who shows promise to "make a difference" in his or her field.

What are Research Opportunities?

Research is defined as careful consideration of study regarding a particular concern or problem using scientific methods.

What are Internships?

Internships is defined as the position of a student or trainee who works in an organization, sometimes without pay, in order to gain work experience or satisfy requirements for a qualification.

What are Scholarships?

Scholarships are rewards given to students for academic excellence and to further a student’s education. Students must apply for a chance to win a scholarship.

What are the similarities?

They all provide experience and opportunity to the student, and they can all be used to improve or add to CV’s and Resumes

What are the differences?

The experience is what is different. Each has their own way of being experienced and the type of training or practice you get is different.

Items that are often needed to apply:

  • Letter of Interest  / Personal Statement / Narrative 
  • Resume / CV 
  • Transcripts (Sometimes Official or Unofficial)
  • Class Schedule 
  • Letter of Recommendation 
  • Proposal

Where can these resources and opportunities be found?

 

Finished with midterms? Congratulations! It’s easy to feel burnt out with all the studying, exams, papers, and/or projects. Now that you’re done, it’s time to relax!

 

Here are some tips on how to de-stress: 

  1. Pamper yourself — Late-night studying and pre-exam jitters can take a toll on you mentally and physically. Take the time to care for your mind and body now that you’re done! 
  2. Catch up with family and friends — Maybe you weren’t attentive to messages or you had to back out of some plans to study. Now that you have some more time, use it to check up on your friends, to call your family! Let them know how you’ve been.
  3. Binge a show or have a movie marathon — Catch up on all the screen time you had to force yourself to avoid! 
  4. Like to exercise the stress out? Head over to the Mashouf Wellness Center! — The membership fee is included in your tuition, just remember to bring your SFSU ID and your energy! 

More Information on the Mashouf Wellness Center Website! 

 

To be sincere the beginning of the semester was very uncertain, no one knew what it would look like, but all we had to do was to trust the progress.

We started the semester with a great attitude due to Gator Fest.

August:

* ChompFest: Food, music, inflatables, swag items and so much fun!

* Student carnival: At West Campus Green students celebrated the start of the semester with free food, music, inflatables, and swag items.

* Noise Complaint: DJ GA cooked some beats on the turntables at Malcolm X Plaza

* Project Connect: Informational sessions on how to walk students through our book loan applications

* Outdoor Movie Night: Students enjoyed watching Disney Pixar’s Soul at the West Campus.

* Reusable Water Bottle : SFSU students were given free water battles from the Office of Sustainability and help reduce plastic waste on campus.

September: 

* Rolling Skating: Free food, music, and skate rentals during the event   

* Trivia Tuesdays: Either in person or virtual! With snacks and prizes!

October: 

* Trivia Tuesdays: Either in person or virtual with snacks and prizes available!

* SketchFest: Students joined special guest performers as they laughed the night away. 

* Orientation Recruitment: NSFP did recruitment for new orientation leaders to become the newest gators to  welcome our entering students over the summer. 

These are some of the events that have happened throughout the semester, and it may not sound as exciting on paper, but once you attend some of the events on campus you will be amazed. So let me encourage you all to attend and have some fun; perhaps you don’t, but that is completely fine, the thing is to get out of your comfort zone and get to know new people, even you can become friends with your friend’s  friends at these activities.

For events, activities, organizations or clubs feel free to check out GatorXperience.

 

 

Upcoming Events

Need Support?

Dean-On-Call Program 

Real-time support for students and those that may be experiencing difficulties in navigating the universities environment

The Dean-On-Call Program serves as an opportunity for students to drop-in for usual or unusual questions, serve as a support or referral resource, and to help students navigate the university environment.

First-Year Experience Peer Mentors

Fellow students are here to connect you to the campus community & provide one-on-one support!

The First-Year Experience Peer Mentor program provides support available to all first-year students at SFSU! Attend the events & study circles that peer mentors hold every week to meet other first-year students & integrate into the community at SFSU. You can also get individualized support by meeting with a peer mentor.

New Student Help Desk 

Help when you need it most! Visit with New Student Programs and the Gator Mentors! 

The New Student Help Desk is open five days a week, Monday - Friday, every week! Make sure to check our website for our updated hours. A GatorMentor is always there to answer any pressing questions you may have. The Help Desk is available for reservations Monday through Friday, from 9 am to 3 pm. If you would like to make a reservation, please email your assigned Gator Mentor directly, and they will assist you in setting up a reservation. Don't have a Gator Mentor? Email us at nsp@sfsu.edu