Sanjana Priyonti
Contributing Writer
In the humid, crowded Convocation Hall, 100 wide-eyed first-years gathered, bleary-eyed yet eager, attending early morning plenaries as part of Sewanee’s Finding Your Place program (FYP). It’s the beginning of the college journey for these students, one that starts in those challenging moments — early starts, packed rooms, and unfamiliar faces. While there are jokes about sleepy lectures and unexpected challenges, these experiences are now part of a program celebrating a decade of helping students, each with their unique backgrounds, find a sense of belonging on the Mountain.
Behind this welcoming experience are the instructors and faculty who understand that FYP is more than an introduction to Sewanee’s history and geography; it’s about each student exploring and shaping their own identity within it. Professors, student mentors, and program leaders alike have witnessed how FYP has evolved over the years into a deeply personal and transformative journey. Through each year, they’ve watched friendships grow, a sense of community deepen, connections form — not just with Sewanee, but between the students themselves.
Haya Shah (C’ 28), one of the students reflects on that journey, remembering the initial shock of stepping into a setting so different from the vibrant, busy city she grew up in. “I thought, where’s the skyline, the noise? It felt strangely quiet, almost unsettling,” she recalled.
But gradually, that quiet became familiar, even comforting. The sounds of Sewanee — the birds, breezes, the distant laughter of classmates — all became part of a new sense of home. FYP helped students reframe their concept of place, transforming silence into something more profound and peaceful.
Professors who guide FYP understand these transformations well. “Finding Your Place is exactly that,” says Dr. Robert Bachman, director of the program and a longtime instructor. “It’s a search, not just in the literal sense but as an inner exploration.”
Each fall, U.S. and international students from bustling cities, remote landscapes, and even International locations come together, each experiencing a shared adjustment. Urban students learn the beauty of forest trails and mountain views, while others accustomed to solitude find camaraderie in the diversity around them. For most international students this is their first time experiencing not only the magical Sewanee but also the U.S.. By connecting students from various backgrounds, FYP creates a shared experience, encouraging them to find common ground even while embracing their differences.
Illustration by Rylie Verner
The program’s structure has shifted over the years, adapting to student needs and refining activities to ensure that each person feels seen and valued. From its inception in 2013-14, the program has shifted from a Domain-centric Physical Education course to a more exploration-based immersion period of and around Sewanee, even going to places like Nashville, Tenn. and Pelham, Ala. while infusing General Education and Physical Education credits to the program. These intentional adjustments — whether it’s adjusting class formats, choosing new locations, or finding moments for individual reflection — underscore the program’s commitment to making every student feel they belong. Through both large group discussions and quiet moments of introspection, FYP has grown to be more than just a primer for Sewanee; it’s the time for students to connect with others and themselves.
To students, though, FYP is more than an adjustment period; it’s the time to break boundaries. These classes, designed to help them ask big questions about Sewanee’s history and culture, invite them to reflect on their own identities as they engage with new ideas and perspectives. The friendships that form here are not just for a semester; they’re foundations for experiences that reach far beyond it.
Professors, too, feel the impact — seeing students grow through this journey, they note the lasting growth and connection that FYP creates. Dr. Bachman explains how he applies his learnings from FYP in his General Chemistry course. It’s no surprise that so many former students return and are eager to volunteer and lead, drawn back to the place where they first found their own sense of belonging.
One recent change has brought students even closer. This year, FYP participants were assigned to live with non-FYP roommates, a departure from the past where FYP students were grouped together. The idea was simple but effective: expanding students’ circles by mixing experiences across dorms which encouraged them to invite roommates/dorm-mates to the social gatherings. Faculty members and mentors have noticed how quickly this shift led to creating new friendships, stretching connections beyond FYP cohorts and making the program’s influence felt even more widely across campus.
In a couple of years FYP will expand to offer this unique sense of belonging to each and every first year student evolving into the First Year Experience (FYE) program. FYE will enable every student to experience the unique and intimate way they can connect with their professors and fellow classmates early on in their college journey.