Being a freshman is a chapter every college student must face, and navigating college life can feel like a stressful and nerve-wracking experience.

Luckily for Lloyd French (Freshman, Kinesiology) and Emily Meyer (Freshman, undeclared), navigating their way has been exciting and gratifying.

French believes that college is “way better than high school and is more structured.” And Meyer enjoys “adapting to living on [her] own.”

Both believe the spring semester was more challenging than their last, as Meyer is taking more units and French is getting more involved with his major, Kinesiology.

However, the Student Services building has become a routine destination in their day-to-day life as a CSU Stanislaus newcomer. 

“I feel like the resource that has helped me the most is the student services building. It’s where the food pantry is and where my coaches are at. So, I can go talk to the coaches whenever I need to and it’s just a good space that I can just sit down and do all my work,” Meyer says.

French also uses the food pantry and says that he goes there every week. 

The Food Pantry, a part of Stan’s Basic Needs, is an organization where up to ten food items can be picked out by each student. Each student is permitted to go once a week. 

Basic Needs also holds bi-weekly Food Distributions and assists in CalFresh. More information on what Basic Needs has to offer can be found here. 

Meyer and French both are student-athletes. Meyer is a member of the women’s volleyball team, and French is a member of the men’s basketball team. They feel that they have yet to master balancing the student life with their athlete life. 

“I think that’s going to take some time to get used to,” French says.

To help with the student aspect, French uses the tutoring center at the Learning Commons, which offers free academic support to all enrolled students.

Meyer and French, as freshmen student athletes, were required to take the First-Year seminar course. Both were taught by Mrs. Sarah Cruz (Academic Advisor, First-Year Success Program). She explained that her role in the First Year Success Program is to “support them with navigating the transition from high school to the college setting.”

Cruz reflected on her class, mentioning that it “encapsulates exploring different areas of self-identity, community building through collaborative work, and really fostering a space for students to engage with various resources on our campus.” 

Cruz is also an academic advisor. She helps these students map their degree progress, what criteria applies to them academically, and helps them maintain good standing with the university and eligibility with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA).

The food pantry, learning commons, and the First Year Seminar course are just three of the wide variety of resources available to these two Freshmen and all other students on campus.

All of Stan State’s resources are to promote their success and well-being as student-athletes.