The Office of Orientation and First-Year Experience at Johns Hopkins University wanted to provide extra support for students who are new to the college experience. Putting a student mentor in charge of texting first-year students has proven to be an effective way to increase retention.

This one student, Kai Abiola, has a unique perspective, having gone through the experience herself. Freshmen at Johns Hopkins are faced with a challenging curriculum and circumstances made even tougher with COVID, but student mentors are helping to guide them to their goals.