We sat down with the UVU Student Association (UVUSA) 2025-2026 Executive Council to reflect on their college experiences so far and their time as first-year students.
Starting college is starting a new chapter of your life, and it can be intimidating. Making the transition from high school to college means meeting new people, taking on new responsibilities, and maybe living in a new place. It’s a lot to worry about while you’re also focused on your academic goals, and every student has their own challenges when they begin college.
That includes outgoing UVU Student Body President Kyle Cullimore. “One of the hardest things was that when I transitioned to college, it was this whole fresh start,” he said. “I knew that’s how it was going to be, but it was a little bit harder than I initially thought it was going to be.”
We sat down with the UVU Student Association (UVUSA) 2025-2026 Executive Council to reflect on their college experiences so far and their time as first-year students. Our outgoing student leaders had a lot to share about what they wish they had known as new students and their advice to help incoming students succeed at UVU.
For Miguel Mayorga, vice president of connection and a first-generation student, understanding how college is different from high school and how to navigate higher education was a major obstacle.
“No one was there to explain, ‘This is what it means to have requirements for a degree, this is how you register for classes, this is how you do all of the basic things.’ So, I had to ask a lot of questions and figure things out on my own,” he shared.
Executive Assistant Bailey Chamberlain is also a first-generation student and had some of the same concerns. “One of the things that I was determined to figure out was how to get scholarships and get my school paid for, because there’s so many scholarships that go unused,” she said.
Academic Advising helps students understand program requirements and make plans to graduate. A supportive advisor made all the difference for Chamberlain.
“This time last year, I went in and was like, ‘I need to get out of here ASAP.’ I love school, but I’m timing out quick. And [my advisor] remapped the whole thing so I’d be graduating in a year rather than three. She was incredible,” Chamberlain said.
UVU has programs across campus that help students navigate college and access resources to help them thrive. Offices like the First-Generation Student Success Center and First-Year Experience support new students by providing mentoring, community, and belonging.
Finding community was one of the biggest worries the Executive Council shared about their experiences as new students. Whether they worried about meeting like-minded people or didn’t think they would make friends in their program, everyone shared that they worried about finding their place at UVU.
“Sometimes, the word ‘involvement’ is a bit overwhelming,” explained Alex Stewart, vice president of student activities. But there’s more to getting involved than joining UVUSA or other student leadership opportunities.
“There are a lot of simple, little ways you can get involved, like something as simple as going to an athletics game, or going to an event, or joining volunteer groups. That all is still being involved with your campus,” Stewart said.
Abbie Fisher, vice president of academics, was surprised by the friendships she made as a student leader. “When I first got involved [with UVUSA], my targets were never to build community or be engaged or be social … and it just so happened that the engagements that I was part of facilitated a broader connection,” she said. “My advice is being open to the flow of what will come your way.”
The main piece of advice our student leaders had for new students was that taking the first step to get involved and make friends was the hardest part.
“One thing I did going into college is I made it a goal not to say no to anything,” Chamberlain shared. “It opened way more doors for me and connected me to way more people than I thought I would meet. And that’s how I ended up getting involved [in UVUSA] was because I just kept saying yes.”
When Chamberlain was accepting invitations, Mayorga was flying solo. “Don’t be afraid to look silly. Doing something or going to an event by yourself might sound so scary, but as soon as you do, you’re going to make so many new friends,” he said. “Do it even if you’re scared.”
“It is kind of scary,” Cullimore added, “But everyone’s in the same boat. Everyone’s in college trying to figure out who they are.”
