By: Patrizia Corvaia, Penn State Parents Council
Making new friends is among the biggest challenges for first year college students. According to a survey released by The Jed Foundation, Partnership for Drug-Free Kids and The Jordan Porco Foundation, about one third of freshmen feel forging new friendships is “extremely or very challenging.”
If you ask Penn State student Kaeleigh Natale about this statistic, she will tell you since her freshman year, she has seen many students struggle to find friends and social activities. Last year, she decided to do something about it. She was among approximately 20 founding members of a club called Project Blue. “The mission of Project Blue is to provide students with a home away from home within the Penn State community. We do this through engagement, so that they feel welcomed and included in the community here at University Park, as well as awareness and participation, where we let them know about the wide range of activities that go on at Penn State. We try to be an action-oriented support system,” said Natale.
With the support of Project Blue Faculty Advisor Allison Murphy, the club has more than tripled in its first year. Project Blue participated in the fall semester Involvement Fair and will be at the spring semester as well. However, students who want to join don’t have to wait until next spring; they can do so at any time. Club activities include attending football games, hiking, dinner nights, moving outings and study groups. Sometimes, notes Natale, the members choose to just “hang out.” The atmosphere is laid-back, friendly and inclusive.
Engagement is a primary focus of the club’s leaders, with founding members reaching out and keeping in touch with those who are less involved with group events. Natale makes time to meet individually or speak by phone with students and parents. “I’ve spoken to many parents on the phone and provided them with information on what to do, what the best way to help is, or even how my club would be beneficial to their child,” she noted.
Project Blue is not just about things to do. Above all else, it’s about students supporting each other as they navigate the complexities of transitioning to college life. According to Natale, most students who join Project Blue say they are overwhelmed with the college transition, they haven’t met many people, and are struggling to find their niche. “They don’t know what to expect or know if the [Project Blue] club is going to help them. Some students think there is no help for them and it’s best to just go home. It’s hard to overcome that, but once we move past that and they start getting more comfortable, it’s a lot better.”
Nelson Mandela once said, “We can change the world and make it a better place. It is in our hands to make a difference.” By providing guidance, friendship and support to students who need it, that is exactly what the founding members of Project Blue are doing.
- Project All Blue Executive Board members are graduating in May. If your student wants to join Project Blue as a leader or active member, contact Kaeleigh Natale by email: kan5311@psu.edu.
