My first year at Colorado College started differently from most of my classmates. Instead of being thrown into the whirlwind of New Student Orientation immediately, I entered campus two weeks early with a group of around 75 students. I was invited to participate in the Bridge Program, a year-long initiative designed to help students from historically underrepresented backgrounds adjust to college. In the program, I got to take a half-block class for credit, participate in a variety of games and activities and meet some of my best friends on campus.
My experience at Bridge can best be described as an intensive orientation combined with summer camp. Each group of students was assigned two mentors, who helped us learn the ins and outs of CC. My mentors, along with the other mentors within the program, also planned activities for us after class ended. The days ahead were filled with excursions such as going to the movies, mountain biking and exploring Colorado Springs.
At first, these events were stressful and not appealing to me. I was finally independent and the last thing I wanted to do was tag along to events that I didn’t have a choice to participate in. Over the next couple of days, however, I found myself building friendships, which made the activities extremely enjoyable.
One night, our class and another class went to the movies, which was the highlight of my Bridge experience. We rode in a van and the conversation flowed, undoubtedly enhanced by the upbeat music playing. Once we got to the movie theater, we got to choose between “Superman” and “Fantastic Four.” I chose “Fantastic Four,” and I didn’t regret my choice in the slightest. I loved the movie’s retro aesthetics, and the pacing was fantastic. I left the theater in a euphoric state, and the night had just begun. After we got back, an impromptu karaoke sesh in the Loomis basement led to a raucous dance party complete with heartfelt vocal performances.
After this night, I felt at home at CC and more enthusiastic about all that Bridge had to offer. I felt grateful for the diverse community I was surrounded by, which served as a pleasant contrast to my small, rural and white high school. The students, mentors and faculty I met became my support system on campus, an invaluable source of support heading into my first year.
My experience wasn’t all smooth sailing, though. On Bridge move-in day, after I finally unloaded all my things, I stepped into the bathroom to take a much-needed shower. The water never got hot, and cold showers, unfortunately, became my new way of life.
In my personal experience, there were also downsides to being in constant proximity with the group of friends I was in during Bridge. Several friend groups started in classes where people formed connections with each other, which made the social experience feel somewhat cliquey and separated. I was part of a Bridge friend group myself, which was fun, but I also found myself extremely drained with what felt like endless socialization. Nevertheless, I remain extremely happy that I went to school two weeks early, and I valued the opportunity to gain comfort at CC.
After the Bridge Program ended and before NSO week began, there was a lot of discourse about the incoming “Avalanche.” This was the term for the arrival of the rest of the freshman class and early returners from other classes. Several of my friends were not looking forward to the campus becoming more populated due to the deep sense of community they developed during Bridge.
Other students worried about a possible disconnect from the new students, given that the Bridge Program serves students from historically underrepresented backgrounds. Another camp of students was excited to meet and socialize with new faces or old friends. I fell more into the second group, as I was excited to reunite with my friend from high school and meet some of the people I had met during the Admitted Students Open House.
I enjoyed NSO, but I also felt overstimulated at times. It was helpful to spend time with my Bridge friends in a more relaxing environment when necessary. As the year began, I found myself making meaningful relationships outside the Bridge community while still keeping old connections from the Bridge Program.
Most of my friends are from the Bridge Program, even though we didn’t necessarily hang out during the pre-college orientation. I’ve also benefited from the knowledge of my Bridge mentors. I’ve received support in unexpected ways, such as learning how to mountain bike safely, and more conventional ways, such as help in making a cover letter for a position I was applying to. I also participated in the financial workshop, which taught me the basics of budgeting and building credit. The half credit I got for the Bridge Program was also immensely helpful, as it allowed me to get priority registration and participate in the classes I wanted.
All in all, the Bridge Program helped me prepare for CC, and the people I met continued to support me throughout the rest of the year. I strongly recommend that anyone considering it in future years sign up.