Pulse Magazine

Photography by: America Salazar

Editor’s Note: Take your first-year as a fresh start. College is a lot more than attending lectures; it is a time where you get to shape your future. Take the time to join organizations on V Link, research jobs and internship opportunities via Handshake, network with others in your field, and above all have fun! Your time at UTRGV does not need to be stressful, enjoy these four years. V’s Up Vaqueros!

As the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley student community prepares for the first day of school Aug. 28, incoming freshmen attended their first event on campus, where they had the opportunity to engage with students and faculty from their college as well as learn about school resources to better prepare them for their first year.

The Brownsville and Edinburg campuses received thousands of students taking the first step in their journey at UTRGV.

Although excited, some freshmen said to be nervous to start their first year. Psychology freshman Karolina Corrales said she expected Vaquero Roundup to help her be more prepared coming to UTRGV.

“I am hoping this event will kind of ease my worries, and just kind of make me feel more prepared for what’s to come,” Corrales said.

As the second part of Orientation, Vaquero Roundup focuses on teaching students how to navigate UTRGV and reach student success.

Andrea Yen, director of Undergraduate Recruitment, said that freshmen could attend a wide variety of information sessions ranging from budgeting for college to how to be mentally healthy. During the event, students could attend just three out of the 29 scheduled sessions. She said Roundup is to help students survive.

“We say, ‘to survive your first week, your first semester and your first year,’” Yen said.

It is fair to say most students did not get the chance to learn about every resource. The Writing Center and the Learning Center are resources available for tutoring, and the Career Center is available for students to review career opportunities. MyUTRGV apps, such as Handshake, V-Link and Navigate, are convenient electronic tools to smoothen a student’s journey through these resources.

Director of Student Success Initiatives Cynthia Saldivar said she recommends students to tailor their needs and the support they need. She said she advises students to explore the different resources available to them and ask for the help of their trailblazers or academic advisors to survive college and make it a better experience.

“I would say that what makes college so great is that you get to determine the experience that you have,” Saldivar said.

Psychology freshman Emma Pezeshki said the highlight of the event was to be filled with excitement and valuable insight into a Vaquero’s journey.

“[I liked] being able to see professors talk about their subjects,” Pezeshki said. “You’re able to see that they have passion for what they do. It really inspires people to get excited. I’m excited to grow with other people and just become a better version of myself.”

Criminal Justice freshman Denisse Jimenez said she is ready to be open-minded about her experience at UTRGV.

“I’m excited to meet new people; it’s a whole different experience cause I feel like from elementary to high school it’s the same people lowkey,” Jimenez said. “Here, [it] is like everyone from all over the place.”

The value of Roundup, besides preparing students, is helping them create their community as they meet other students in their college and others with shared interests. Yen said an essential piece of a good college experience is having a strong support system.

“The advice we tell students at new student orientation, and, it’s what I reiterate to them every Roundup, is to find your people,” she said. “It doesn’t matter where they are or who they are, but find who your people are. That’s [what] is going to be your support system throughout your time at UTRGV. So, if you can do that, we know you’ll make it.”

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