Welcome back, Broncos!
Well…welcome back to campus.
It feels so strange to come back to campus after two years. Some of you reading this, this is your first time on campus ever! Seeing people from Zoom university in person can be weird. That awkward pause of looking at someone knowing you had four classes with them. Their cat’s name is Sparkle and they’re working at the BSC, yet you don’t know how to say “hi.”
Awkward…
ALT: David from Schitt’s Creek questioning, “Who are you?”
My first year, I had a tough time on campus as I didn’t have any friends to hang out with. I felt lonely and so out of touch with my own university. If you read that and said, “That’s me right now,” let me help you!
Here are five ways to enhance your CPP experience now that you are back on campus!
Step 1: Join a club/organization.
ALT: A monster from Monsters University dancing.
I know you’ve heard everyone say you should join a club and there is a reason for it. First, it’s a great way to make friends! Second, it’s an opportunity to take on a leadership opportunity if you run for a position on E-board. And third, you will be able to network with your fellow club or org members, which will benefit you during both your time in and out of college. Not sure which club is the best for you? Do your research. Did you know there are more than 436 organizations at CPP? Visit myBAR to view the list of clubs and org available to join! Between you and me, ASI will be soft launching a Student Club and Organization Service Center (SCOSC) at the BSC. This SCOSC will be an in-person hub on campus for students who are in a club or org or looking to join.
Step 2: Utilize campus facilities and resources
ALT: Hermione slamming a book on the table for Harry Potter in the library at Hogwarts.
The facilities and resources at CPP are here for you to use, so let’s look at a few of my favorites. CPP Health Services are a great way to make sure you are staying healthy! Whether you are ill or injured, most of the services offered at CPP Health Services are low or no cost to you. Looking for a way to become more active? Take a group fitness class or work out at the Bronco Recreation and Intramural Complex (BRIC, Bldg. 42). Campus Rec offers so many classes including SCUBA, rock climbing, meditation classes, and more. Simply sign up at ASI Portal! Have some spare time between classes? Go to the Bronco Student Center (BSC, Bldg. 35) (BSC, Bldg. 35)! There, you will find the Games Room Etc.—which offers free gameplay for students, a food court, lounge areas, and more. Money a little tight for food? Then, you should utilize ASI’s Poly Pantry. Poly Pantry provides free access to food and hygiene products. You can make an appointment once a week for free groceries from the Poly Pantry. Another great resource is the library. Reserve a study room where you and your friends can do homework together, listen to music, and enjoy each other’s company.
These facilities on campus are some of many of the greatest resources your university has to offer.
Step 3: Attend events
ALT: Oprah saying “You get an Event”
ASI is here to make sure that you have an amazing student experience. The easiest way to do so is by attending an event!
From Flick ‘n’ Float movie nights at the BRIC pool and Intramural Sports tournaments, to celebrity Q&A sessions, there is a wide variety of the events ASI offers. The best part is most ASI events are free for students! If you are eager to attend an event but aren’t sure where to start, visit ASI Portal to explore all our current offerings and sign up for the ones that interest you most!
Step 4: Find your favorite spot on campus
CPP Japanese Garden
Cal Poly Pomona has a large campus, 1,438 acres to be exact! From the top of campus at the Kellogg Hotel to the most recent addition to campus, the Student Services Building (SSB), there is so much to explore on campus. Take time to stop and smell the roses at the Rose Garden or make your way over to the tranquil Japanese Garden right across the way.
One of my favorite spots on campus is the stables, located directly across from the BSC. The water fountain here brings me so much joy and peace, and the tables near the fountain are the perfect place to read, study, or even scroll TikTok in between classes.
By finding a place on campus that brings you comfort and peace, you are sure to feel more at home at CPP.
Step 5: Grow your relationship with your professors
ALT: A group of professors dancing in their graduation attire.
Your professors want to see you learn and grow, even if they never tell you that or it might not feel like it. Remember, you are a stranger to them as much as they are to you. By getting to know your professors, you’ll learn they are here because they love to teach and want to make an impact on students. I’ve met so many incredible professors during my time at CPP who made me feel more than a number on a roster. Now that we are back on campus, there are no more black boxes on the screen, which means no excuses for not getting to know your professors! They are in your field of interest and are knowledgeable about the industry you want to go into post-graduation. Ask them questions to help with your career goals. You never know when you might need a little more guidance, and it’s always nice to know someone is rooting for you.
If you can take any advice from this article let it be this: Whatever experiences you want to have during college, you are responsible for it. In college, and in life, you get out what you put into it. Now is your time, Broncos! Seize the day. Go sign up today for a club or event. Let today be the start of a new day!
Do you have any personal recommendations for ways to enhance the CPP experience? Let us know by tagging @ASICPP on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
