LinkUp has taught me how to be a leader
I was not part of the LinkUp program when I was a freshman, but I wish I had been! When I came to SOAR, I was so overwhelmed by all the information that I was given, all the places I had to go and all the people I had to meet, I totally missed my chance to learn about LinkUp and to sign up for it! That won't happen to new students this year — now everything you need to know about LinkUp is on this website so incoming freshmen can find out all about the program before they get to SOAR!
Anyway, now as an upper classman, I wanted to get involved somehow so I applied this year for a spot on the LinkUp student staff. Students on the LinkUp staff serve as mentors to some of the new LinkUp participants and help plan and facilitate some of the events. As a mentor, I have had a great time this year with my group of freshmen. We have had many chances to check in with each other to see how things are going and we have gotten together sometimes just to hang out. I like having the chance to help others talk about and work through some of the roadblocks that I too met as a freshman.
—Thuy Le