2024 Fall Welcome
Twenty-three METRIC students and seven program personnel attended the welcome orientation on September 7, 2024, at the Student Recreation and Wellness Center and the Hall of Science at California State University, Long Beach.
The day started with a speed dating ice breaker where scholars share their name, major, hobbies, favorite food and restaurants, and special skills.
Next, scholars were divided into their discipline groups and played a silent communication game where they had to sort themselves in ascending order in silence and with their eyes closed. The activity was designed to teach scholars that communications can take on many forms. It might be difficult to do at first while we learn about the ways others communicate but it gets easier over time.
Following a quick welcome from the project leadership, presentations from the CAPS and Basic Needs office were given to introduce students to more campus resources such as ways to budget their financial aids. To teach students the importance of physical wellness, the program continued with an hour of yoga session in the Student Recreation and Wellness Center. Professor Paul Burns from Science Education at CSULB, who is a certified yoga instructor, led the session.
Boxed lunches were served in the Science Education Lab in the Hall of Science during which students who participated in summer internships/REUs and study abroad programs shared their experiences.
The program concluded with students and faculty mentors learning about science, math, and art with Professor Lisa Martin at the Science Education Department at CSULB and practice their learning with a painting activity.
The purposes of the event were meant to:
- build camaraderie.
- bring awareness to campus resources.
- provide knowledge and strategies to reduce stress and promote communication.
- provide students in-person opportunities to build relationship with discipline mentors and peers.
- learn from each other.
- disperse program information.
Event Photos
