My name is Matthew Cannella, preferred pronouns are he/him/his, and I am from Pelham, NY. I am in the class of 2025. I am a double major in Mathematics and Physics. This is my second year working as an NSO Peer Advisor. I am a CA and a peer tutor for several physics and math courses, and I also tutor high school students. Outside of academics, I help to run Club Table Tennis, and I am a member of Math Club, the Society of Physics Students, Board Game Club, Intramural Softball, and Chess Club.

Advice to First-Year Students

Don't stress about knowing exactly what you want to do at this point in time, and explore classes that just seem fun and exciting to take. You might change your mind about what you want to study or find a new subject that is interesting to you.

Hello, everyone! I'm Vicky Gong, hailing from Hefei, China. As a K-pop dance teacher at KDC, I get to share my passion for dance and create exhilarating experiences. Photography is another deep source of inspiration for me, which led me to decide to be a Studio Art major with a photography concentration during my sophomore year, thanks to the incredible opportunities at Wes!

In addition to my artistic pursuits, I am also majoring in Computer Science, exploring the fascinating world of technology and its applications.

As your Peer Advisor, I'm here to connect with you, share my journey, and discuss our diverse interests. Let's make the most of our time at Wes by supporting each other and building a vibrant community. Excited to embark on this journey together!

Advice to First-Year Students

Get ready to dive headfirst into the exciting unknown of your first year. Embrace the unknown with an open mind and a curious spirit, allowing yourself to explore new interests!

Hello! My name is Serenity and I’m from Western Massachusetts. I’m in the class of 2026 and I am majoring in English and Feminist Gender and Sexuality Studies (FGSS). I’m passionate about human rights advocacy, investigative journalism, and environmentalism. In my free time, I love driving around New England, playing video games with friends, and tending to my houseplants (fun fact: I own over 30 plants!). Feel free to reach out if you want to talk about academics, plants, or anything in between! And, if you’re an FGLI or trans/queer student needing help navigating campus resources, I’d love to help too!

Advice to First-Year Students

At Wesleyan, the first year is the best opportunity to experiment with different courses, majors, and extracurriculars. I recommend taking as many courses as possible - I wish I did! And, have fun with these new experiences too – plenty more are coming!

Hi everyone! I am Arielle. I am from Lexington, Massachusetts, and am a prospective psychology major. During my first year at Wesleyan, I tutored Middletown kids through the Traverse Square Program, I joined Wesleyan Reproductive Advocacy and Legislation (WRAL Instagram), and I performed stand-up comedy with Hysterics (a non-cis-men stand-up comedy group, Hysterics Instagram). I was also involved in Jewish life. I often went to the Chabad or WJC Shabbat dinners. I even took a course called Sinai Scholars, where I got paid to talk about Judaism! Next year, I will live in the Bayit (the Jewishly affiliated House), so I am excited to be even more involved in Jewish life. Please reach out if you have any questions about how to get involved in Jewish life, psychology questions, managing accommodations at Wesleyan, and more.

Advice to First-Year Students

Go out of your comfort zone and try new activities! It is easier said than done, but you will not regret it. I never expected to do stand-up comedy, but it was one of the highlights of my year.

Hi! I am Tara, a second-year student from Northern Virginia. I am interested in both computer science and psychology and am pursuing a double-major in both classes but have also explored philosophy, data analysis, and Spanish classes in my time at Wes and am happy to help assist with these subjects as well.

Currently I am an English language tutor for the Paper Airplanes program as a part of the Wesleyan Refugee Project, and I am involved in Wesleyan Ethics Bowl and writing articles for the Intercut Film Magazine. In my free time I love to cook, listen to music, hike, and crochet, and I am always open to new experiences.

Advice to First-Year Students

Whether it's that class you've been interested in but it doesn't align with your major or that person that you think is cool but are too scared to talk to, always be open to new experiences. Remember that everyone is new to Wesleyan just like you are, so don't feel intimidated to try new things and explore new interests.

Hi! My name is Sami, I use she/her pronouns and I am currently in the class of 2027. I am part of the Women’s Varsity Ice Hockey and Lacrosse teams on campus! I am planning on majoring in Neuroscience with a Economics and Dance minor, or being a double Economics and Psychology major with a Dance minor! The great thing about Wes is the flexibility in classes and how accommodating it is to students who are indecisive or just want to try all types of classes.

I have taken my fair share of different types of classes at Wes so if you have any questions about classes or how to make a schedule with a balance of classes that seem fun but will also set you up for success, please let me know! I love the open curriculum but also get how overwhelming it is, so if anything comes up I am happy to help! If anyone knows anything about trying new things in the classroom, I would say it's me, as I am now on track for a Dance minor and had never stepped foot in a dance studio my whole life before coming to Wes!

Out of the classroom I love watching movies. I am part of the ice hockey and lax team on campus so my schedule is always packed, so I definitely know how to make a schedule with balance—one that will get out to your goals but also won't kill you. Also regarding accommodations, I have had my fair share of experience with these, and at Wes the process is so easy and super accommodating so if you have any questions about that let me know!

Advice to First-Year Students

It is going to be overwhelming and confusing, but enjoy the process and love every second! Wesleyan is such a special place and trust me it will all work out! So just have fun!

Hello! My name is Helen (she/her/hers) and I'm an FGLI student from West Texas. I'm a College of Social Studies major in the class of 2027, and also intend to pursue the Data Analysis Certificate. I am currently studying Russian at Wes (I studied abroad in Estonia this summer!) and speak Mandarin Chinese at home. I also volunteer with the Wes Refugee Project (Instagram) and work as a Research Assistant for the Wesleyan Media Project. Please reach out with any questions, comments, or interesting facts, and welcome to Wesleyan! :)

Advice to First-Year Students

Be willing to learn new things, especially about topics you don't already love, and go to office hours. Immerse yourself in the vibrant community at Wes, and remember to make time for yourself!.