UP Connections creates community
Lauren Seynhaeve
Issue date: 11/19/09 Section: Living
"I'm especially glad to help students make connections," Romero said. "There's a sense of community as not only a mentor but as a friend."
Many mentors share meals throughout the week with their mentees, and most try to work around the busy schedules of their group to get everyone together for a movie night or other fun event in addition to the regularly scheduled events throughout the semester.
Junior Lilian Ongelungel was a part of UP Connections as a freshman, and became a mentor as a sophomore to continue the UP Connections cycle and to give back to new students who feel out of their element.
"I think it's also really important for retention rates," she said. "It really helps them. I personally would like to see it spread to more students on campus, international students included, because it's a nice resource for people to have."
One special event that the mentors try to host is a Thanksgiving meal for students who need to stay on campus over the break.
"We try to have a place for people to go over Thanksgiving so they're not alone," Villicana said. "It would make me very sad to know one of the UP Connections family had to eat alone."
Making friends is one of the most important aspects of OHANA and UP Connections.
"Seeing them make friends, some of them even making their best friends and eventually living together on campus is great," Villicana said.
Many mentors share meals throughout the week with their mentees, and most try to work around the busy schedules of their group to get everyone together for a movie night or other fun event in addition to the regularly scheduled events throughout the semester.
Junior Lilian Ongelungel was a part of UP Connections as a freshman, and became a mentor as a sophomore to continue the UP Connections cycle and to give back to new students who feel out of their element.
"I think it's also really important for retention rates," she said. "It really helps them. I personally would like to see it spread to more students on campus, international students included, because it's a nice resource for people to have."
One special event that the mentors try to host is a Thanksgiving meal for students who need to stay on campus over the break.
"We try to have a place for people to go over Thanksgiving so they're not alone," Villicana said. "It would make me very sad to know one of the UP Connections family had to eat alone."
Making friends is one of the most important aspects of OHANA and UP Connections.
"Seeing them make friends, some of them even making their best friends and eventually living together on campus is great," Villicana said.
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