First-year students gathered for the 73rd annual Carolina Kickoff last week, a program aimed at helping incoming students transition into life at UNC. The three-day event consisted of team and self-building activities, campus-life exposure and advice from 40 student counselors.
Campus Y, UNC's hub for social justice, sponsors Carolina Kickoff. The Center hopes to teach first-years about embracing the diversity present on campus and within the class of 2023 through its program's curriculum.
Carolina Kickoff is held at New Hope Camp and Conference Center, a summer camp located about 20 minutes outside of the University.Students were able to move into their dorms the day before participating in program activities on Aug. 14.
Multiple students learned about the program through friends who had attended in the past or through advertisements on social media. Out of hundreds of students who applied this year, 175 first-years were invited to join.
“Before I applied, I was looking into things that would let me move in early and give me an early experience on campus,” first-year Max Palmer said. “Carolina Kickoff offered this.”
Along with the unique opportunity to move in early, Carolina Kickoff allows students to make new friendships with other first-year students.
“Unlike all of the other early programs, I heard that in Kickoff, you make a lot of long-lasting friendships,” first-year Jessica Uba said. “I also heard it was more social justice-oriented, so I wanted to see what it was talking about.”
Over the course of the three days, attendees were separated into groups and participated in team-building activities meant to foster a deeper connection between attendees and the counselors.
“They are really secretive about what they do and with the schedule,” Palmer said. “Every activity was a surprise to all the students, which I really liked.”
