Lighting Your Zag’s Spark

By: Kelly Alvarado, FYEP and Joey Sammut, SIL

Congratulations! Your student’s first semester at Gonzaga University is complete! During the holiday break, your student may experience a myriad of emotions — excitement at being home, confusion around changing relationships with previous friends, or an itching to return to Gonzaga and their new life here. Many of these feelings are normal and healthy. However, we want to offer a new programming initiative occurring on campus in the coming spring semester for students who may be experiencing anxiety, stress, or confusion regarding their fit within the Gonzaga community.

Spark is a collaborative effort by First Year Experience Programs and the Student Involvement & Leadership Department that consists of a six-week program for students experiencing issues with transition and sense of belonging at Gonzaga. The purpose of Spark is to provide students a safe space to explore their transition through the still-new university environment. The program is grounded in student development theory and provides students the strategies necessary to identify how they can manage the academic, social and spiritual changes they are facing at Gonzaga.

The program is open to any student questioning their “fit” or searching for their niche. Students have the chance to participate every week or just attend when they feel like it – it’s up to them! Topics will cover academics, normalizing behaviors, problem solving, getting involved and writing your story.

It is our hope that this workshop will create a spark necessary for first-year students to ignite their Gonzaga spirit and student experience. Please encourage your student to participate in the program by stopping by First Year Experience Programs in Crosby 110 or Student Involvement and Leadership in Crosby 200. Information on the program will also be posted via twitter at @ZagsInvolved.