Lea Cerini

A Guiding Light for Freshmen: First-Year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS)

In high school, students are expected to commit to an area of study for their college experience without even knowing what opportunities are available. First-Year Interest Group Seminars (FIGS) are a one-credit course offered at Rutgers, designed to aid freshmen with the transition from high school to college. FIGS are taught by experienced undergraduate upperclassmen, also known as Peer Instructors, in order to provide first-year students with a comfortable environment to grow, ask questions and make friends. Rutgers is a very large institution with five campuses and has the second largest bus system in New Jersey. The size and complexity of Rutgers can easily intimidate freshmen. Additionally, Rutgers offers a variety of majors and minors that may be overwhelming for new students, especially those that are undecided. First-Year Interest Group Seminars were developed to inform students about the structure of a Rutgers education and the available opportunities. First-Year Interest Group Seminars have been successful in providing resources to freshmen and supporting them during the beginning of their academic career. The Environmental Policy and Awareness First-Year Interest Group Seminar has been especially successful throughout the years in exposing freshmen to the idea of sustainability. Kendall Soto is a junior majoring in Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior and minoring in Planning and Public Policy at Rutgers University, New Brunswick. Kendall was the Peer Instructor for the Environmental Policy and Awareness Group Seminar for freshmen during the Fall 2022 semester. The course is not limited to freshmen in the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences, but is available to students of all majors that have an interest in environmental policy. Kendall is the School of Environmental and Biological Sciences (SEBS) representative and Sustainability Subcommittee Chair for the Rutgers University Student Assembly (RUSA), as well as the representative for RUSA on the Student Advisory Board for the Rutgers Office of Climate Action. She is also involved with the Climate Reality Chapter at Rutgers, where she is the Outreach Committee Chair.

During the period of every FIGS class, the Peer Instructor composes a panel of fellow experienced students at Rutgers for the first-years to ask questions. Kendall’s panel included undergraduate students studying the topics of Environmental Science, Public Policy, Sustainability, Public Health, Environmental Policy, Institutions and Behavior and Supply Chain Management. I was present on Kendall’s panel, and I was able to witness firsthand the students’ excitement to ask us questions on a personal level. The well-rounded panel further widened their perspective of the possible majors options available at Rutgers and allowed them to visualize if a student’s experiences line up with their goals. The students found that they could “ rely on” the upperclassmen to create more connections with the various communities on campus. They were also informed of student organizations, internship and research opportunities and on-campus employment positions. When asked how Kendall’s FirstYear Interest Group Seminar made the first-years feel for next semester, they responded that they felt “ reassured” , “ supported” , “ comfortable” , “ prepared” , “ confident” and “knowledgeable. ” For all incoming freshmen at Rutgers University, I highly recommend that you take a First-Year Interest Seminar. Every Peer Instructor is selected carefully because of their academic success and involvement at Rutgers. First-Year Interest Group Seminars are a great opportunity to receive a credit towards your graduation, make friends with similar interests as you and will ultimately prepare you for your academic and professional career.

What did you try to achieve in your FIGS class, specifically in relation to What did you try to achieve in your FIGS class, specifically in the topic of Environmentalrelation to the topicPolicy, of Institutions, and Behaviors?Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behaviors?

“I wanted to empower students to feel comfortable welcoming the Rutgers community and their resources for support when challenges in environmental activism, career development and their personal life arise. The Office for Career Exploration and Success provided me with four pivotal elements to guide my class teachings, including personal wellness, academic success, and diversity and inclusion. I had such an inspiring experience facilitating conversations about the intersectional relationship of environmentalism and key lessons so important for first-year students. ” - Kendall Soto, Peer Instructor

Kendall Soto Junior Rutgers University Major - Environmental Policy, Institutions, and Behavior Minor - Planning and Public Policy