"That's what college is for, to explore what you want to do. And that's exactly what Sonoma is for," said Breauna Fracassa, an SSU student leader when asked by RUP students about her choice of career path.
Each academic year at Sonoma State Universitybrings another Discovery Day, and this particular Discovery Day marks a milestone as the tenth in SSU's history. Discovery Day provides high school freshman from Roseland University Prep (RUP) with exposure to college and the opportunity to connect with Sonoma State students.
Many young students arriving from RUP did not grow up thinking that college may be an option for them. Discovery Day at SSU gives these students their first taste at the college experience. This year, Emily Acosta Lewis' Communication Studies class organized SSU students to plan a day of games and scavenger hunts to get to know and build connections with each other.
Service-learning provides students with real life experience in what they're learning in class. For example, when asked how SSU students used tactics learned in class to organize a scavenger hunt for over 100 high school students, Michael Morgan, a Communications major at SSU said, "Communication with other groups for sure. I've been talking to other people in every group over text to organize where each group is and which way they are coming."
SSU students engaged the RUP visitors in a college myth busting exercise in hopes of dispelling some anxiety that surrounds collegiate expectations. Many of these students are the first in their families to go college so they had questions to ask. SSU student leaders wanted the young RUP high schoolers to know that college isn't just about parties and that higher education is a diverse environment of people from various backgrounds.
Discovery Day presented RUP students with a wide spectrum of the college experience. It was here that they learned that college isn't just about studying everyday nor is it about partying every night. They learned that at SSU, they can remain close to their families yet make new friends while they were here. When RUP students were asked if they were considering SSU as an option, many raised their hands, because they learned here at Discovery Day that college at SSU is a welcoming experience.
Big thanks to President Armiñana who generously sponsored the pizza lunch. President Armiñana took time out of his schedule to appear at Discovery Day to directly talk to all the students. He shared a heartening story about the commitment he made as a Cuban youth coming to the United States to go to college and build a better life for himself.
The CCE would also like to thank RUP students and faculty for taking the time to come spend a day at our school. Thank you to Emily Acosta Lewis and her Communications Studies class for organizing an eventful tenth Discovery Day.