Paying it Forward: From Transfer Student to Student Leader

Kaleb Valentin ‘24 started at Texas A&M University like most incoming transfer students do — looking around at a big, bustling campus, wondering how he would find his place among others who seemingly already had theirs.

For Valentin, a civil engineering major who transferred from community college in San Antonio, adjusting to life in Aggieland within the rigors of Aggie engineering felt daunting.

However, a chance invite from a friend and fellow nervous transfer student to attend an extended orientation program together through Aggie Transition Camps (ATC) would change the trajectory of his journey at Texas A&M in ways he couldn’t imagine.

Not being able to attend Fish Camp the summer before beginning at Texas A&M led Valentin and his friend to Transfer Camp (T-Camp). Offered by the Department of Student Activities, T-Camp is an extended orientation program that goes beyond new student conferences to help transfer students get acclimated to life in Aggieland.

What Valentin found when he walked through the doors with his friend was a group of welcoming students there to support them. Each session offered a shared sense of purpose, providing a place where they could start learning about what it means to be an Aggie and building the foundation for a lifelong community.

“Aggie Transition Camps helps support the transition process for students coming into Texas A&M,” said Valentin. “It really gives you a nice starting point for finding community because coming in, it can be very daunting. The campus seems really large with a lot of people walking around, but it gives you that opportunity to find your Aggie family and to grow professionally and socially.”

Going through the program, Valentin noticed the passion of the students running it, and a light bulb went off. The selfless leadership that he and the others in attendance were experiencing from their own peers struck him. His gears began turning, and he was curious about how he could be the one to give back to others like that.

It was then and there that he decided to get involved, with the goal of becoming a counselor himself.

Counting the cost and paying it forward

Although Valentin felt inspired by the impact T-Camp and its counselors had on his start at Texas A&M, after learning about the cost to join its student organization ATC, it almost didn’t add up for him.

“I’d seen a presentation given by one of the directors on the cost associated with joining, and it felt intimidating,” shared Valentin. “I was thinking to myself that I really wanted to get involved, but I wasn’t sure that my passion could outweigh the financial responsibility.”

Other counselors encouraging him to join tipped the scales. Pointing Valentin to the Aggie Experience Fund, an endowed fund through the Texas A&M Foundation that helps students cover costs associated with involvement at Texas A&M, he applied in hopes of getting his dues paid for.

His application was approved, and Valentin was able to get the funds he needed to join ATC, becoming a counselor just as he had envisioned that day at T-Camp.

The initial spark he felt observing selfless service on display started a three-year journey of growth. Fueled by appreciation for his own experience, Valentin quickly distinguished himself as a leader in the group and was promoted to various roles in the organization.

Moving from counselor, to chair, to director, to campfire speaker, the investment from the Aggie Experience Fund paid many dividends in Valentin’s journey at Texas A&M. Becoming a leader gave Valentin a unique vantage point where he was not the only one reaping the benefits of his involvement, he was also able to mentor countless other students as they moved up behind him.

“If I could speak to any of the donors who make the Aggie Experience Fund possible, I would want to say thank you,” shared Valentin. “Because it’s not just covering a fee, it’s removing a barrier to entry. Being involved opened the door to quite a few possibilities for me in my time at Texas A&M, including making some of my closest friendships and being able to give back to others.”

The first howdy, lasting impact

Making up ~5% percent of the student population at Texas A&M University, it’s easy to see how incoming transfer students can feel unsure of where to start as they transition to life in Aggieland. What better way to beat those first-semester nerves than by being welcomed to Texas A&M by your fellow Aggies. That’s the philosophy behind ATC.

While ATC is housed within the Department of Student Activities, the program is run entirely by the students in its registered student organization. Hosting T-Camp in the fall and Howdy Camp in the spring, these students lead with intention as the first ‘howdy’ for transfer and nontraditional students. The experience inspires many students who go through the program to pay it forward and get involved. And with resources like the Aggie Experience Fund, students like Valentin don’t have to choose between following their passions and making ends meet.

“Some of my executive team members were dues-paying members early on, and that support was critical,” said Dalton Jones ’18, extended orientation program manager. “Without it, they would have left after a month because they simply couldn’t afford to stay.”

“The reality is that membership comes at a cost, and for many of our students, that’s both a financial and a time cost,” Jones added. “Some are working two or three jobs, and some will leave here today and go straight to work. Having the Aggie Experience Fund to support them alleviates that pressure in a real way, and gives them the chance to take their shot at something meaningful.”

Jones’ own involvement journey as a student, and now staff member, at Texas A&M also exemplifies the path that students can take when they are invested in through student organizations. Like Valentin, he was involved with ATC throughout his undergraduate career and now gets to support the students who were once in his shoes.

“You never know how far your support is going to go, but it will go far,” said Jones. “I’ve had the privilege of working alongside some truly incredible student leaders, helping them build their skills and grow. I’ve watched them go on to outstanding graduate programs and remarkable career opportunities. That’s what this is really about.”

All it takes is a spark.