FYJ Testimonials

I chose to participate in an FYJ my freshman year in order to find community and like-minded people who were excited to get outdoors. The outcome of my FYJ was exactly what I had hoped for; I found a community within Outdoor Programs as a trip leader which has now evolved into my best friends and support system on campus.  

FYJ teaches participants what they are truly capable of, providing confidence, whether from pushing themselves outside of their physical or mental comfort zone. FYJ provides a safe space for students to be introspective before embarking on their college journey, ultimately allowing them to create goals within a support system to take on the challenge of college successfully. 

I am invested in FYJ and mentoring incoming freshmen because I want to give back to the community that has aided me in the success of my college journey thus far. FYJ changed the trajectory of my college career for the better and I want to influence as many incoming students as possible in order to give them the same sense of community that I had when I started college. 

In my (slightly biased) opinion, Outdoor Programs is the best community on campus. Being a trip leader means that I have over twenty automatic best friends who all have a shared passion for getting ourselves and others into the outdoors. Being a trip leader is unique because of the experiential learning that comes with being a part of the program. Along with technical skills such as setting up a tent, we learn leadership, interpersonal, and communication skills. Every time I lead a trip, I get to learn from my mistakes in a safe environment and cultivate these skills that will aid me in my success post-college. There is no other place on campus where experiential learning is the key component of the program. 

I chose to be a participant on FYJ because I wanted to challenge myself with going on a backpacking trip for the rest time and build friendships coming into freshman year. FYJ was the perfect space to do this because trip leaders create a safe space that promotes challenging oneself and communicating with other participants.  

In my opinion, the most meaningful thing that FYJ provides incoming students is the confidence to navigate college life. It is scary coming to a totally different place when starting freshman year, and from my experience, FYJ makes the transition to college life much easier and builds confidence going into the process. 

I am invested in FYJ and mentoring incoming students because I want to give students the safe space and amazing trip that I had when participating in FYJ as a freshman. The FYJ experience was so meaningful to me because it was my first time going backpacking, and it motivated me to be a trip leader, so I want others to have the opportunity to have a life-changing experience as well. 

Being an outdoor programs trip leader is unique because you get so much experience with planning and leading trips, which develops a much better understanding of how much work actually goes into the process that is often overlooked. It also gives such a great feeling to see how much participants enjoy a trip that you have put so much time and energy into.   

Participating in a FYJ is a valuable experience for incoming students because the trips reveal new potential within themselves and their relationship with others and the outdoors. They provide unique opportunities for students to step out of their comfort zones: physically, mentally, and socially.  When else are you grouped with strangers and challenged to face heavy waves of the Pacific Ocean, the beast of backpacking, or sleeping outside to the sounds of nature? Being vulnerable, hiking for miles, and mountain biking are other examples that push participants or can be seen as intimidating. But it's these challenging moments where students learn to depend on and trust each other and unlock a new confidence in their capabilities. The shared successes along with the developing and supportive community leave an immeasurable impact on individuals that can't be obtained elsewhere.  

I am passionate about FYJ and mentoring incoming students because I believe there is a place for everyone outdoors: no matter their background or experience. I didn't hike or camp much growing up, and when we did, best believe we secured a generator to get us through. However, after going on a FYJ myself and getting involved with Outdoor Programs, my relationship and experience with the outdoors evolved and produced a new sense of adventure in me like I'm a kid again. I want to relay this idea and my experience in hopes of introducing people who can relate to my upbringing to the world of outdoors. 

Being a trip leader with Outdoor Programs is unique because of the set understanding within the community that we can all learn something from each other.  The trips and activities we plan are varied and require different sets of skills, so more than often I'm being taught teaching new technical skills either by/to our directors, fellow trip leaders, or even participants. Feeling comfortable to ask for help, then allowing space for people to share their knowledge and create learning opportunities is special and beneficial for everyone. I also appreciate the level of investment that our directors put into trip leaders and our program.

Going on a First Year Journey was something that I required myself to do. I have always had difficulty adapting to change, especially in spaces where I do not know anyone else. Finding a community where I would fit in was what caused me to be the most anxious about college. I assumed that by going on a week-long journey with other incoming freshmen, I was bound to make at least one friend. Luckily, I enjoyed everyone in my group and have become quite close with most of them. I am genuinely grateful for this experience and the community I have gained through my First Year Journey. 

While getting to know everyone on our many adventures through Zion national park, I learned that every incoming student is nervous about something. Most importantly, it taught me how to push myself in uncomfortable situations and that you don't have to be alone in that process. Whether I was nervous about making small talk with others in my group, going canyoneering, or jumping off a "cliff" into the lake, I always had people to support me. They showed me that you do not need to do all the challenging tasks on your own.

My FYJ leaders were positive and inspiring; they cultivated a warm and welcoming space for me to grow and learn. I want to continue creating that environment for incoming students because it has made school more fun and manageable for me. FYJ gave me confidence in myself which has allowed me to create more friendships. I hope to mentor incoming students because I am familiar with what they are feeling. My trip leaders were vulnerable on the trip about their lives and college experiences. Seeing their successes and knowing that they struggled as incoming students was comforting. I am beyond grateful to have gone on an FYJ; it was such an impactful experience and I hope to provide others with a positive experience that insinuates growth. 

Being a trip leader requires significantly more responsibility than most other clubs and organizations. The responsibility of leading a handful of other people to explore the outdoors is a significant feat. This comes with many benefits though I have learned how to communicate more directly, plan effectively, and take ownership of my mistakes. These are life skills that I am getting to learn at a more accelerated pace than my peers. I get to learn and grow in all these skills while planning and leading trips or hangouts to places I am excited to explore with some of my best friends!