Hermosa Beach native Peter Falzon, a freshman accounting major at Loyola Marymount University, decided to go on First Year Retreat (FYR) because he wanted to meet new friends and connect with student mentors at LMU. He said on FYR, he found exactly that.
“FYR made me feel much more at home at LMU,” Falzon said. “The leaders and retreatants made everything very comfortable, and it was a very fun experience.” He has stayed in touch with some of the friends he made on FYR and is grateful for this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. “My small group was very open and willing to share which made me a lot more comfortable, and I feel like one special moment was when we finished with our designated prompts, we just chatted casually, which was really fun, and we found many common things we all enjoy.”
About 60 first-year students and 35 leaders attended the retreat at Camp St. Nicholas in Frazier Park in Kern County. For Campus Ministry’s new retreat director, Diana Hadjiyane, FYR was a great way to see LMU leaders in action making first-year and transfer students feel at home at LMU. “For some students this was the first space where they felt that they could be their authentic self and bring forth all of their identities, and also do so in conjunction with a faith element. Students know that can be their entire selves and are accepted within the walls of Campus Ministry,” said Hadjiyane.
On the retreat, student leaders gave three separate talks: “Who am I? What do I believe? Where do I want to go.” Jessie Hernandez, a senior dance major with a double minor in philosophy and education decided to lead this retreat because she met so many of her closest friends on FYR.
“Each of my small groups over the years has been uniquely special, with students from a variety of religious backgrounds,” said Hernandez. “It’s inspiring to witness them share their unique faith experiences, which helps foster mutual understanding and growth among their peers.” One of the benefits of FYR is physically taking first-year and transfer students out of their everyday lives on campus and mentally inviting them to be their truest selves.
“FYR provides a loving, supportive community through Campus Ministry,” said Hernandez. “It offers students a safe space to express their concerns about college and life while connecting with compassionate leaders committed to service and faith.” said Hernandez.