Every Monday evening, first-year student dorm halls come together with their Alpha small group leaders to connect and reflect.
Alpha groups are a rite of passage for Point Loma Nazarene University’s first-semester freshmen, who are given “an opportunity to build unique and lasting community,” according to the PLNU website.
Bella Jimenez, a first-year kinesiology major, is a resident of Hendricks Hall and has experienced increased community within her hall because of this small group.
“[Alpha] has helped me connect more with my hall,” Jimenez said. “I think we were all kind of nervous to go out and meet everyone, but by having Alpha, we were provided with a safe space to go out and meet each other. I met a lot of my hallmates through the Alpha nights and am so happy I had that opportunity.”
Mylee Gunn, a second-year nursing major and one of Jimenez’s Alpha leaders, said she has been able to see connections and friendships form within her group.
“I’ve seen them make friends with each other in the hall — it’s beautiful to see their own relationships bloom on campus,” Gunn said.
Ava French, a second-year political science major and residential assistant in Hendricks Hall, said the weekly meetings have been a way for first years to ground themselves and pause from their busy weeks.
“Having a dedicated space one hour a week that they can count on has helped them stay connected and more grounded through the remainder of their weeks,” French said. “It is a great check in point for everyone and allows for downtime while in community.”
Gunn said that Alpha has also been a way for her to see growth in her group.
“I’ve seen their mindsets change from high school ideologies to college life,” she said.
As the semester has passed the halfway mark, she has watched the girls become more settled in with school and friendships.
“I think that now we are halfway into the semester, Alpha is more of a way to intentionally bring them together rather than help them make friends,” she said.
While created specifically for first-year students, both Gunn and French have seen the way Alpha nights have impacted them as well. Gunn reflected on how Alpha has helped her realize her love for leadership and how it has cultivated that love into a strength.
“I’ve learned how to help facilitate conversation, be a safe place and be a co-leader,” she said.
French said Alpha has helped her understand her value of community, and how she uses it as a way to show up for herself and her residents.
“I am learning the importance of community,” she said. “Alpha for me this year has given me opportunities to deliberately slow down or change my mood so that I can show up for the residents in the hall and get away from the noise of every day.”
As a nursing student, Gunn has also learned how to balance Alpha while maintaining a rigorous schedule. Even though dedicating time to Alpha takes away from studying, she said it has become a way for her to set time for faith and relationship building.
“I’ve been able to balance it out nicely with nursing school. I’m glad to have some built-in time during the week to prioritize my faith and build relationships with my alphies [group members],” Gunn said.
Gunn said she is excited for the rest of the semester and the opportunities it will continue to bring for community building.
“My hope is to continue to build intentional time for these girls to connect, and to build deeper relationships with people I may not naturally get along with,” she said. “I strive to be a safe place for these girls to come to and ask for help if needed.”
Kaelyn VanderSpek