72 student organizations and departments participated in Tuesday’s Get on Board Day, a tabling event that occurs every WOW. 13 off-campus partners were also in attendance.
Photo courtesy of usfstpetersburg on instagram.
By Mahika Kukday
Week of Welcome (WOW) concluded today as returning students settled back into their rhythms and newcomers attended their first college classes. Now, as the electric excitement of WOW fades, the true university experience begins.
To help incoming first-years maximize their time on campus, USF St. Petersburg seniors share their memories, favorite spots and secret tips for success.
Like most freshmen on this campus, psychology major Byran Robleto lived in Ibis Hall during his first year in college. Ibis dorms are located in the same building as the University Student Center (USC). It’s fitting, then, that he picked up a useful trick in the same spot.
“I definitely spent a lot of my time in the USC. I’d study downstairs in the bench area next to 727, that was my go-to spot,” said Robleto, who is from Miami and started college in spring 2022.
“Whenever I’d see people set up for events, I’d be like ‘Oh what’s going on?’ and then I’d just stay and be one of the first few people at events, and wouldn’t have to wait in line,” he said.
The USC often hosts events featuring appealing giveaways and long check-in queues. Late Night Breakfast, a wildly popular event that occurs during Study Center Week every semester, is a perfect example. Students are always eager to secure the themed t-shirts and get first dibs on the food.
Photo courtesy of Kelli Carmack
Photo courtesy of Kelli Carmack
Robleto fondly remembers a tabling event from his first semester in fall 2022, where he met USFSP’s Dean of Students and Assistant Vice Chancellor for Student Success, Dr. Jacob Diaz.
“Dr. Diaz brought up the Latin American Student Association being a thing, so he instilled the idea of like, ‘There is a space for students like you.’”
As the son of Nicaraguan parents, Robleto mentioned that this introduction to the Latin American Students Association (LASA) inspired him to ask questions, talk to other students and get involved.
Today, he is the vice-president of LASA and director of cultural programs and events of the Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA).
Serena Lozandi is a fellow senior and OMA employee. She serves as the president of the organization and majors in biology with a minor in creative writing.
Reflecting on her first year beginning in fall 2021, Lozandi said, “I’m not going to lie, a bunch of us honors students started hanging out because we were trauma bonded by one of our classes.”
As a Judy Genshaft Honors College member, Lozandi joked about how a friendship between classmates began with some good-natured complaining about their class.
However, she stressed the significance of BullsConnect and paying attention to the flyers posted around campus to keep up. Lozandi said she formed most of her deepest connections when she attended events and joined organizations that resonated with her.
BullsConnect is the comprehensive platform for information about events and student organizations across all three campuses. It’s also used to register for and check in to events.
As a commuter student, Lozandi shared an invaluable tip about parking.
“There’s a small parking lot next to the Family Study Center behind RHO where commuters can park,” she said, adding that the SLC parking lot, popular with SLE employees and RHO students, is often full.
Courtesy of USF
Environmental science and policy major Iris van der Veen won’t need Lozandi’s commuter tip, because she has lived on campus for all three and a half years of her time in college.
In fact, her first year in Osprey Suites was instrumental to developing her initial social skills.
“My resident assistant would do events and they did Monday karaoke nights and the whole building would show up because they advertised really well,” van der Veen said.
She was also fairly bold in her approach, at times.
“I met a lot of people playing cards in the lounge. I’d call out to people as they came out of the elevator, like ‘Do you want to play cards with me?’”
Van der Veen finds her freshman year gusto amusing. But she stands by the notion that putting oneself out there, especially when it’s most daunting, is the key to collegiate success.
Her advice to freshmen who may be longing for the comfort of home, is to fight that urge for a while.
“My dad told me not to come home until Thanksgiving that first semester. When all my roommates were gone, I was kind of left to my own devices and that’s when I spoke to other people and started to get comfortable being alone.”
Dr. Diaz also urges students to step outside their comfort zones.
“Something that first-year students don’t realize is that we want you to succeed,” he said. “This isn’t a test where you’ve been admitted and we’re looking for you to fall into a ditch. It’s actually the opposite.”
Dr. Diaz strongly recommends students to make the most of the resources available to them, like the proximity to downtown, the free Sunrunner and on-campus opportunities.
Along with Robleto, many students across campus enjoy interacting with faculty like Dr. Diaz. In the Student Life and Engagement department, students work closely with their faculty supervisors and often end up developing friendships that extend beyond the professional.
“It just gets more complicated as you get older,” said Diaz. “So, no time like the present.”
