Despite Long Beach City College’s numerous attempts to help students transition into their first year, these opportunities aren’t often taken advantage of, leaving a feeling of isolation on campus.
The transition out of high school into college can be rough, but on top of that, it can be hard to get involved.
This feeling, along with the pressure to have the classic “college experience,” can be discouraging for students that are watching their friends start their new lives at their four year universities.
LBCC is a commuter school, so it can be difficult to make friends and take advantage of the on-campus opportunities.
Most people go to class and then go home, with little to no time spent actually on campus, removing the option to attend any of the events LBCC has to offer.
These events are designed for students to mix with one another, which gives them the chance to socialize and form connections on campus, making their time at LBCC more meaningful.
This combination of not meeting people and not spending a lot of time on campus can be very isolating.
This isolation is not due to LBCC’s lack of opportunities to meet people, but rather students’ reluctance to get involved.
Before the school year starts, incoming students are offered the opportunity to join Viking Summer Voyage, an eight-day, in person, program designed specifically for integrating new students into LBCC and aiding them into their college transition.
The school also offers the First Year Experience program, which hosts an orientation at the beginning of the school year where students can meet others in the same position as them.
This is a great opportunity for new students making the transition from high school to college to get to know both the school and other new students, making the process a lot less daunting.
LBCC also has 127 clubs, most of which host weekly meetings.
Clubs are a great opportunity for students to interact with other students that share the same interests and goals.
Most of these clubs also offer various events and fundraising opportunities that can help with on-campus involvement.
Along with its various clubs, LBCC has 18 intercollegiate sports teams.
Joining a sport is an amazing opportunity to grow close with other students and turn your peers into teammates.
Another way to get involved is by checking out the Viking Engagement page on the Long Beach City College website.
The Viking Engagement page showcases various events happening on campus that week, or in upcoming weeks.
This is a great place for students to stay up to date on fundraisers, movie showings, and club meetings.
For students who are not interested in joining a group or team, the easiest way to get involved is to be intentional with your time on campus.
This means showing up to class, talking to the people around you and not rushing home once class ends.
LBCC has created many areas for students to hang out and connect with each other, so taking advantage of those spaces will be really helpful in having a more meaningful on-campus experience.
These areas include the Connections Cafe, the various tables located all around campus, and the ASB building.
There are also more specific areas that students can visit such as the Black Student Success Center, the Veterans Center, and the Justice Scholars Program.
As a first year student it is important to turn to these groups and various events to meet other students and make your time at LBCC more impactful.
For many students, you are only at LBCC for two years, so take the opportunity to make your time at LBCC meaningful.
Get involved, get to know your peers, and take advantage of what LBCC has to offer, it will make the experience much more enjoyable and less isolating.