New To Campus, Not Shy About It

Awa Sallah

The fall semester is in full swing, and the Class of 2030 is here. College is a huge transition. For most people, it is their first taste of independence and can bring a sense of uncertainty and excitement. Students are away from home, meeting and living with new people while trying to balance academics and a social life.

The Mountain Echo spoke with a few first-year students to ask them how their experience at the Mount has been so far.

Kaitlyn Winch, who is from Toms River, New Jersey, first heard about the Mount through one of her teachers, who is an alumnus. “He was in love with the Mount, and that’s what inspired me to tour. I fell in love with it when I stepped on campus for the first time,” Winch said.

Winch said her admissions counselor, Liz Steward, has been the most helpful person to her on campus. She has gone to her for help, and Steward is always there to answer her questions. Winch said she has enough time between classes to socialize, without it interfering with her academics. She also has friends in her classes and always finds a way to make timefor her academics.

Felix Alsner, who arrived from Germany, heard about the Mount through his soccer agent back home. Adjusting to college life was initially difficult. “It was difficult at first because you don’t know any of the people here, and especially with the language barrier,” Alsner said.

However, he found support from many other international students at the Mount, which made the transition easier.

What impressed Alsner about the Mount was its small campus, which he said makes it feel like a family where everyone knows each other. Alsner’s teammates have been the most helpful people to him this semester. They have helped him communicate, and shown him around campus. Because of their shared passion for soccer, Alsner finds his teammates to be an accessible and strong support system at the Mount.

Sofie Tellez added that the Mount exceeded her expectations. She said welcoming students and professors have made her feel like she is building a home away from home while still having a strong sense of community. Tellez chose the Mountbecause it was close to home while still allowing her to have independence and experience campus life.

Another deciding factor was the Department of Political Science. “I’ve heard really great things about the political science program, and being so close to the D.C. area, there’s internships, networking and career opportunities nearby,” Tellez said excitedly.

This semester, she is looking forward to joining clubs and organizations, meeting new people and becoming a bigger part of the Mount community. She has connected with her law professor, Ed Egan, because he makes political science interesting and fun while providing insight into what the legal process looks like and how students can prepare for future career goals.

Molly Gallagher chose the Mount because it was able to meet her accommodation needs, such as providing a single room, extra time on tests and flexibility with attendance. Gallagher had a difficult time being away from home at first but said she is now getting more used to it.

When it comes to meeting new people, Gallagher said she decided to dive right in. “I’m just starting conversations. I remember being at the PAC and playing Uno, and a bunch of other people joined. There was this girl from my Modernity class, and we started talking on Instagram before the school year even started,” she said.

As the semester gets underway, first-year students are adjusting to their new surroundings, building relationships and finding their place within the Mount community.