First-Day Impressions

We asked first-year and transfer students new to Chico State to share how their first day as Wildcats went. Whether a particular moment that stands out to them or an overall impression of the campus they now call home, these students share in 150 words or less how they are diving into their Chico Experience.

Katlyn Lakey

Katlyn is a first-year student from Fall River Mills. She is majoring in business administration and attending Chico State with support from a President’s Scholar Award—one of the most prestigious scholarships at Chico State.

Waking up after a restless night, kept up by the possibilities of the next day, I biked to my first-ever college class. After a little bit of searching—on the wrong part of campus—I found my way to class, where I was immediately greeted by my newest friend. My concerns of instantaneous course work were diminished when, instead, a meet-and-greet game was played where I was able to find out more about the lives of my new classmates. Next, we dove into the origins of the universe and humans’ place in it. I learned that if the history of the universe was condensed down into one year, humans wouldn’t show up until the last seconds of December 31! Let’s just say my first day included gaining perspective as well as some friendships.

River Jenkins

River is a first-year student from Petaluma, majoring in journalism. She is a recipient of the A.H Weibel & A.W Bramwell Scholarship, established in memory of two news editors.

I woke up on the first day of school with the same “first-day jitters” I have every school year. This time, I woke up feeling like an adult. I thought, “I’m a college student now!” with the “I’m a big girl now” Huggies commercial on repeat in the back of my mind. I thought my first day at Chico was going to be very different from all my other first days. However, what comforted me the most was how similar it was. No matter how grown I felt on the morning of August 26, my day started with a Facetime from my mom begging for a “first day of school picture.” My roommate was obliged to take it for me.

Kate Minderhoud

Kate is a first-year student from Paradise. She is majoring in anthropology and considering a second major in psychology.

I don’t like labels. Everyone is multifaceted, and when labels are used to categorize people, that is forgotten. This year, [as someone who experienced the Camp Fire], I was labeled a “victim.” It was repeated so many times, I began to believe it was my identity. But at Chico State, that doesn’t have to be part of me. On the first day of school, this was obvious. One of my teachers asked the class who and what they wanted to be. She encouraged diverse and detailed answers. Labels were irrelevant, and she didn’t want us to feel limited by them. Her encouragement helps me believe that I can grow here and be more than just a label.

Ian Hackett

Ian is a first-year student from Carlsbad. He is undecided on a major and a sprinter on the track and field team.

On my first day of school, I felt very welcomed and at home going to class. I wasn’t nervous to start something new, but I looked forward to making new friends and having new experiences. After classes, the track team went out for a workout in the hills, and when we finished, everyone was super sweaty since it was 104 degrees out. We all hopped into the creek nearby, and that is what stood out to me the most: relaxing with the track team in the creek.  

Amy Bell

Amy Bell is a transfer student from Moorpark. After competing at Long Beach State last year, she is now a pole vaulter on the Chico State track and field team and majoring in kinesiology with an emphasis in coaching.

There’s something about the first day of school that brings out nervous, excited jitters in students. Campus was filled with young incoming freshmen, returning students, seasoned seniors, and the category I fit into: transfer students. Walking across the bridges, under the leaf-filled trees, and past the beautiful brick buildings was a refreshing change of scenery from SoCal. What stood out even more than the landscape was the type of people I encountered on my walk to class. The handful of people that guided me, not by just telling me where to go, but by walking with me, hints at the type of people on campus. It’s relieving to know I am surrounded by individuals willing to make me feel welcomed and who go out of their way to help. I think it shows testament to the type of individuals Chico State attracts, and I am proud to become part of the Wildcat family.

Egypt Hubbard

Egypt is a first-year student from Inglewood. She is majoring in computer animation and game development and a member of the Educational Opportunity Program.

My first day of school was pretty good. Leading up to it, I was looking forward to being back in the classroom. I love learning, and I was told that college was gonna change my life. However, as prepared as I was for the first day, I went to the wrong class. I was frustrated for a little while,  especially since it is an EOP course link, but my computer-assisted art class once again brightened my mood. It is my longest class, but I already know that it is going to be my favorite class this semester. After that, I went to “University 101,” another course link. It was nice being in a class with other EOP students, especially the ones that I had not seen since Summer Bridge. Being in a classroom full of people with similar backgrounds as me helped me feel more grounded during this new experience. Getting the semester off on a fairly good start now has me motivated to do great things while I am here in Chico.

Payton Fuller

Payton is a first-year student from Cottonwood. He is majoring in computer animation and game development, and is on the track and field team.

As we walked to the WREC at the end of my first day at Chico State, I realized that I now counted Ava as a close friend. She is also a member of the Chico State track and field program. We’ve only known each other for a few days, but Chico has an amazing way of turning strangers into family. That’s my main takeaway from my first day. I went through my classes and both the professors were exactly what I hoped for. They made the whole class feel welcome with jokes and heartfelt stories. I chose Chico State because the community is very inviting. My first day was no exception.  

Joshua Todd

Joshua is a first-year student from Redding. He is majoring in recording arts.

I moved to Chico from Redding a couple of weeks before school started in an attempt to gain my bearings of my new living situation and daily routine. I was devastated. The move was going to happen sooner or later, but I couldn’t help but feel like giving up and staying home. After a week or so, I was able to get comfortable with my roommates, and as I started to get more busy with providing for myself, the anxiety wore off a substantial amount. However, school hadn’t started yet, and that was next on my long list of what to be worried about. To my surprise, my first day at Chico State was really nothing to worry about. I had a grand total of two classes to attend Monday, and during the lull in between, I was given a chance to explore the campus at my own pace. At one point, I laid down underneath a towering tree providing copious amounts of shade, and I thought about my next few years and how this place will soon become so familiar to me. Then I thought the same about the people I’ll soon meet in my classes. And then I was worry-free.

Allen Turner

Allen is a first-year student from Sacramento. He is majoring in English.

A moment that stood out to me from my first day of school was the tour I had with my hub in the REACH program. On the tour, I got to meet people in my hub and the leader, Omar. The point of the scavenger hunt was to find significant places and helpful resources on campus. Our group did a good job finding and identifying these locations. It was super helpful, because as a new student on the campus, I didn’t know where most of these facilities were. On the scavenger hunt, we made jokes and kept the mood pretty positive. We got prizes at each location and in the end got a T-shirt. I’m enjoying REACH so far due to the small bonds created and the help I have received. Being a mentor might be something I want to look into.

Stephanie Mills

Stephanie is a first-year student from Corning. She is majoring in agriculture.

Coming from a town where the population is smaller than the population at Chico State, I was unsure of what to expect. As soon as I got settled into my class, I knew that this was going to be my home for the next four years. There truly is something for everyone at Chico State, and I have found my place in the College of Agriculture. Being surrounded by individuals with the same passion as mine and the same desire to learn more about agriculture, I was able to fit in very quickly. Everyone in the College of Agriculture was so friendly, you didn’t feel as if you met a stranger. I’m excited to be a Wildcat, because once a Wildcat, always a Wildcat.