For first-year students, New Student Leaders (NSLs) can be the backbone of their college transition by offering a friendly face around campus or being a confidant—someone first-years can trust with their college transition difficulties.
Now, while Connecticut colleges and colleges across the U.S. feel the effects of a decline in enrollment, Fairfield welcomes its largest, most academically competitive incoming class for what seems like the umpteenth year in a row.
With the increased first-year population, NSLs needed to enlarge their numbers and adapt their class sizes to keep up with increasing enrollment. NSL Development Intern Cole Fabry ‘26 estimates that the number of NSLs is around 70, with only about 15 being male.
“It’s different this year, there are more NSLs and we have more FYE sections with bigger class sizes.” Even with a record-breaking number of first-years, Fabry believes in the NSL’s ability to successfully welcome first-year students to campus: “We have a great empathetic group that’s ready to go. They’re nervous, but they know more than they think they know.”
Even though NSLs will be with their groups all of fall welcome and throughout the semester in class, they’re getting a head start and sharing their advice through The Mirror to help ease students’ transition to life at college. Their advice includes tips for students to get out of their comfort zone, make friends at college, coexist with roommates and combat homesickness.
NSL Development Intern Angeline Miraglia ‘25 encourages first-year students to “take that first step and organize plans with friends or new acquaintances who could become friends. Start a conversation with the person next to you in class because that could lead to lunch.”
When looking for new friends, Senior NSL Angelo Corsini ‘27 points students toward Fairfield programming and the Life@Fairfield website. “Take advantage of all the events the University has planned for you,” Corsini suggests. “Go to the activity fair and join as many clubs as you are interested in, if even only slightly interested in. You’ll find your people at those club meetings.”
When it comes to roommates, Miraglia knows not everyone will be best friends with theirs and she reminds first-years to “advocate for yourself, know that your feelings are valid and stay true to yourself when setting boundaries with roommates.”
Even though first-year students will see their NSL every week in a class they co-teach with a Fairfield University faculty member, many first-years may still be hesitant to converse or reach out for help.
For students hesitant to engage with their leader, NSLs offer guidance to overcome the stigma of asking for help. Fabry acknowledges that it may be difficult to initiate that conversation, but “for anyone hesitant or on the fence, just look around you. It may seem everyone has it all figured out, but you only see the outer level and we all understand and have gone through the experience.”
Fabry also believes that reaching out for help can be even harder for male students and stresses the importance of the NSL program’s guiding pillars: “A big part of this program is instilling a mindset of inclusivity so everyone feels at home here. In general, we hope to move the university culture to a place where more people feel safe and comfortable. No matter who they are, they can express themselves, whatever they are feeling.”
Additionally, Senior NSL Abby Evans ‘26 knows that many first-years will have the instinctive urge to compare their college experience to others, however, she reminds students to “take it step by step: don’t compare your transition process with anyone else’s, yours will be unique.”
To wrap up the advice for the newly arrived first-years, NSL Alyssa Weinberg ‘26 offers concise words of wisdom: “Go to class and have an open mind. The best part is the people and the atmosphere.”
Managing Editor Kathleen Morris is an NSL and did not read, edit or have any part in the creation of this article before publication.
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