Beginning a new journey can be nerve-racking for some. Whether students are coming into Cal Poly Pomona straight after graduating high school or transferring from a community college, embracing an unfamiliar environment can be out of their comfort zone.

Orientation aims to alleviate the stress that comes when beginning a new chapter by providing a transition into a new academic community that is a seamless as possible. Students get a chance to network with their peers, campus leaders and departments that will help them forge their path to success. The Office of New Student Programs and Family Engagements organizes and runs the program and welcomes not only freshman and transfer students, but also parents, guardians and supporters. It's also a collaborative effort where divisions from all over campus help with the onboarding of the new Broncos.

This summer was the second in-person orientation since 2019 and marked the introduction of the pathways component, in which students had an opportunity to choose what they want to learn.

"We want our students to feel empowered right from the start, which is why we introduced the pathways component this year," said Krystal Flores, orientation senior coordinator. "By allowing students to select specific topics of interest, we believe they will be more engaged and invest in their orientation experience."

Pathways gives students three intriguing options to choose from including: "University Resources 101," which provides insights into the resources the university offers; "Why Diversity Matters," emphasizing the importance of inclusivity and "CPP Community on Campus," which allows students to interact and learn more about the Associated Student Inc. (ASI).

Orientation aims to foster connections and relationships within the academic community, said Hailee Shafer, program coordinator.

"Our orientation group leader activity and ice cream socials are designed to break the ice and help students connect with one another. Building relationships with peers and mentors is crucial for their sense of belonging and success," said Shafer.

The program also aims to foster connections, promote diversity, prepare students for the academic rigors of campus life and enable them to experience campus life.

Incoming freshman Malik Laros felt welcomed and eager to share what he is excited about the most this upcoming fall semester.

"Having the ability to discover and learn… being open minded and receiving all forms of learning is something I look forward to," said Laros.

Fellow incoming freshman Eric Parra expressed that CPP had everything he wanted in a university.

"I'm looking forward to meeting new people and getting my hands-on experience in engineering. I want to join clubs-don't know which ones yet-I'm looking into exploring and networking so when I start my career, I'm set," said Parra.

As CPP continues to evolve with innovations to its orientation program, such as the pathways component and a mix of online and in-person options, ensuring incoming freshman and transfer students can embrace success is key to those who organize the events.

Steven Garcia, also an incoming freshman, shared that he had a favorable experience at orientation.

"Everyone is so friendly, I love the environment here," said Garcia. "I'm excited to start getting involved with racecars, rockets-the big stuff yeah-just learning about all categories and subjects."

Lana Hy, orientation leader, said she enjoyed helping incoming freshman and transfer students find their footing.

"This is my first summer doing orientation and it's so nice just to make people feel welcomed," Hy said. "It's nice and rewarding because I feel like I'm making an impact here."