Campus Ministry invites all first-year and transfer students to attend the First Year Retreat (FYR), Sept. 12-14, 2025, in Lake Arrowhead, California. This retreat offers students a unique opportunity to pause, reflect, and hear from upperclassmen about their own experiences transitioning to LMU, all while having fun in the mountains! Elizabeth Léka ’26, a journalism major, regrets not attending FYR her first year. After hearing so many positive stories, she signed up to be a leader as a sophomore. “It’s such a special weekend to take time to reflect,” said Léka. “It’s great to meet these freshmen where they are, hear why they chose LMU, and learn about what they want to accomplish. I stayed in touch with my whole group last year.”
According to Léka, first-year students who attend FYR can count on making new friends, building connections with their leaders, and easing their transition to LMU. Research supports her perspective: Studies on retention at LMU show that students who attend FYR integrate more smoothly into college life.
As FYR 2025’s activities committee lead, Léka emphasized the fun side as well. The weekend will include karaoke, campfires, s’mores, and hikes in the beautiful Lake Arrowhead setting. “The first year moves so quickly that you don’t always have time to process what you’re going through, or to think about who you want to be and what paths you want to take,” she said. “This retreat is a chance to step back, reflect, and make a lot of friends. It’s a good way to affirm where you are so you can enjoy your first-year experience.”
Diana Hadjiyane, Campus Minister for Retreats, encourages students to sign up and has extended the deadline until Sept. 11. “My hope for FYR is threefold: that students encounter fellowship in the shared transition into college; that they gain tools to reflect meaningfully on their experiences; and that they leave with authentic friendships they might not otherwise discover,” she said.
Alissa Paulino ’28, an animation major, attended FYR last year and is returning as a leader. “First-years should come on this retreat because it’s a great welcome to LMU,” she said. “There are upperclassmen there to help you, and the retreat is designed specifically for first-years to get on the right path as they begin their college journey.”
