Students at Southern University have spearheaded the introduction of Leaders of Education, Growth and Opportunity (LEGO), a program that focuses on easing the stresses of the transition from high school and building better relationships between students.
The motto of LEGO, which is being lead by Elyse McFadden and Christopher Strozier, is “Your Building Blocks of SUccess.”
“It’s a mentor program,” said McFadden, a senior marketing major from Manteca, Calif. “We just want them (freshmen) to feel comfortable at the university.”
According to Strozier, the application process is similar to that of eHarmony.com—freshmen are matched with upperclassmen based on similar interests determined through a personality survey. However, gender does not play a factor in the process. Females may be paired with a female or a male participant and vice versa.
McFadden and Strozier, who are both active members, developed the idea for starting the program prior to the beginning of the semester.
“We kind of knew already we wanted to do a buddy program,” said McFadden. “The freshman class has been lost for the past couple of years.”
Both leaders shared a common goal of “getting the yard back to how it used to be” and said that they would like students to build lasting bonds and networks while participating.
Strozier, a senior special education major from Atlanta, expressed that the program offers an opportunity for freshmen to become better acclimated with classes and teachers. He feels that LEGO also serves as motivation for students to get involved on campus through organizations like the Student Government Association and also off campus through internships.
LEGO also favors Big Brothers Big Sisters, which is the “oldest, largest and most-effective youth mentoring organization in the United States,” according to the organization’s website. Upperclassmen may be considered big brothers and sisters, while freshmen are considered little brothers and sisters.
Freshman Cortlan Weatherford, a business management major from New Orleans, is McFadden’s little brother.
“Me and Elyse met through one of my suitemates; she just started talking to me,” said Weatherford, “and the next thing you know, I was her little buddy.”
McFadden said that they walk to class together and are like friends. She also declared that many members have more than one buddy.
Sophomore Demetrius Dejean expressed an interest in joining the program and felt that it would be beneficial to the freshman class.
“There’s a lot of freshmen that don’t know where to go or what to do,” said DeJean, a criminal justice major from Lake Charles. “They don’t know what to expect.”
Langston Williams, a sophomore speech communications major from Baton Rouge, learned about LEGO at an SGA meeting and feels that the program helps freshmen get better acquainted with the campus.
“I’m looking forward to making a well-rounded Southern scholar and trying to help mold him into the most successful student that he can be,” said Williams. “In the process, I’m gaining friends.”
LEGO will host an ice cream social on September 10—other information about the event is still to be determined. Applications may be completed on the second floor of the Smith-Brown Memorial Union. All students are encouraged to participate.
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