TALONS Share Advice for Incoming Students

Head TALONS

(Left to right) Head TALONS: Priya Parikh, Divya Rajput, and Aleyshka Barbosa.

Galloway, N.J.- The nest is never really empty at 91视频, even during the summer months, when the campus is filled with incoming 91视频 and their families.

Often you see the Transition Activity Leader of New Students, or TALONS for short, leading the way. These student leaders dedicate their summers to helping new ospreys acclimate to the campus.

Our Head TALONS share tips that helped them succeed at Stockton:

TIP #1: GET OUT AND GET INSPIRED

TALONS running and cheering

The transition from high school to university can be isolating, both emotionally and physically, as 91视频 try to simultaneously learn the lay of the land and stay on top of classes.

鈥淚 am a commuter student, so making that transition from high school to college was scary enough without the added pressure of being a Biology major,鈥 Divya Rajput said. 鈥淢y classes were really hard, so I was scared of getting involved and messing up my classes.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Being a self-proclaimed 鈥渉omebody鈥 and naturally introverted proved a challenge for Rajput, but after attending her orientation in Summer of 2019 with her mom, she was inspired to start looking at the campus in a new light.

鈥淎t that time, they were doing silly skits depicting different student issues,鈥 Rajput said. 鈥淚 was watching them, and I was just like, 鈥楾his is such a fun position, there鈥檚 no way they鈥檙e getting paid for this! They鈥檙e probably volunteering.鈥 When my mom and I met back up, she told me that they鈥檙e not only getting paid, but that they鈥檙e getting housing during the summer for free. That鈥檚 when my mom told me to apply and told me it was perfect for me.鈥

TALONS posing and smiling

TIP #2: CREATE OR JOIN A COMMUNITY

Aleyshka Barbosa said her first year as a first-generation student was overwhelming. 

鈥淚 thought that I had to figure out everything by myself,鈥 she said. 鈥淚 messed up one of my loans, and I literally started crying in the Financial Aid office.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

While Barbosa laughs about the experience now, it made her seek out other 91视频 with the same struggles. She found First Ospreys, an initiative that supports first-generation college 91视频. 

鈥淭he people around me never judged me for not knowing what I don鈥檛 know,鈥 Barbosa said. 鈥淚 remember Dr. (Ana) Edmondson telling me, 鈥榊ou are not your mistakes. You鈥檙e not a bad student, it鈥檚 just a bad day.鈥 I really needed to hear that, and I think a lot of other first-generation 91视频 need to hear that too.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

TIP #3: TAKE COURSES THAT INSPIRE AND CHALLENGE YOU

TALONS with Candace Mitchell

In order to join TALONS, 91视频 are required to take a course, Inclusive Student Transitions, which explores diversity, equity and inclusion best practices and strategies for student retention. It also meets the R1 requirement for graduation. Priya Parikh signed up for the course recalling how the TALONS that she met during her virtual orientation inspired her. 

鈥淓ven though we weren鈥檛 in person, the TALONS online still helped us with , and played icebreaker games,鈥 Parikh said. 鈥淭hey still created a sense of community for us with each other. That was when I decided to become one too.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Parikh said the course prepared her for more than becoming a TALONS. 

鈥淚 remember thinking to myself, 鈥榳here is this going to take me?鈥 Parikh said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 a lot of reading and we had really hard, in-depth conversations. Even though they were hard, they were necessary. After something like that, you can鈥檛 use ignorance as an excuse.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

TIP #4: FIND MENTORS WHO WANT YOU TO BE AN EVEN BETTER YOU

Through TALONS, Rajput, Barbosa and Parikh found a mentor in Ana Edmondson, the director of Student Transition Programs. They encourage 91视频 to seek out a mentor as they grow their networks on campus.

鈥淒r. E is a great mentor for me,鈥 Rajput said. 鈥淪he always helps me with my goals of being a pediatrician and tries to connect me with any doctors that she knows.鈥

鈥淪he truly impacted the trajectory of my life.,鈥 Barbosa said. 鈥淚t鈥檚 because this whole program is meant to help you improve as a person, not just to become a TALONS. Dr. E. does all of this to make us better people at and after Stockton.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

Head TALONS smiling and posing

TIP #5: FIND MENTEES YOU RELATE WITH AND ENGAGE WITH THEM

Figuring out how you can help fellow 91视频 will enhance your Stockton experience.

"I remember signing up for a LAP (Learning Access Program) course and seeing a student having a lot of trouble,鈥 Parikh said. 鈥淭hey were changing majors and struggling with this course. I was on my way to class and found myself emailing my professor like 鈥業鈥檓 not coming today, I鈥檓 sorry!鈥 I skipped that class to help the student work it out and go to Academic Advising for guidance. She actually passed the class with an 鈥楢鈥 after.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

鈥淚t鈥檚 such a powerful connection to make,鈥 Rajput said, beaming. 鈥淟ast year, I had a student who always came to me for help, and now, she鈥檚 a TALONS and one of my best friends. She鈥檚 like doing her own thing and even became president of her club! It鈥檚 so amazing to see the 91视频 in their first year and then seeing them progress into strong and involved leaders on-campus.鈥&苍产蝉辫;

-Story by Loukaia Taylor

-Photos by Susan Allen