Summary
Pathfinder Quest: Welcome to the Trail is an introductory workshop focusing on giving students the chance to meet new peers, connect with GEAR UP staff, and discuss questions and concerns they have about post-secondary education.
Essential Question
How can understanding my interests and strengths help me choose a career path that fits me?
Snapshot
Student Check-in
Students will take a short survey reflecting on current feelings and questions about college life.
Peer Connection Activity
Students will engage in Human Bingo helping them make connections with peers.
Mentoring Resources
Students will learn more about other helpful resources.
Materials List
Activity Slides (attached)
Bingo Cards handout (attached; one per student)
3-2-1 handout (attached; one half-sheet per student)
Pen/pencil
Learning Goals
Students will reflect on their feelings about transitioning to post-secondary life.
Students will connect with their peers in a Bingo activity.
Students will review the available mentoring resources available to them.
Preparation Note
10 Minute(s)
Preparing the Handouts
Bingo Cards: There are 10 unique cards. Print one per student.
3-2-1: Prior to session, print and cut each half sheet.
Updating Slide Information
Add the next session’s meeting information to slide 10.
Student Check-in
20 Minute(s)
Use the Activity Slides to facilitate this session. Transition through slides 2-4 to review the session title, essential question, and learning objectives. Move to slide 5 and share the QR code and URL link to the First Semester Check-In Google Form. Explain to the students that this Google Form questionnaire will ask them about their feelings on transitioning to post-secondary life and how GEAR UP’s Pathfinder Quest series can make them feel more confident throughout their first semester. Give students 3-5 minutes to complete the survey.
Peer Connection Activity
20 Minute(s)
Move to slide 6 and introduce the Human Bingo activity. Explain that students will use a randomized Bingo Card filled with prompts like “Someone who has already visited the campus library” or “Find Someone who is from a different state than you.” The goal is to move around the room, engage with peers, and find individuals who match each square. When a match is found, students write that person’s name in the square. The goal is to have students get three in a row before the time runs out. Start the K20 3-minute timer.
Mentoring Resources
20 Minute(s)
Move to slide 9 and discuss the mentoring resources that are available to students. These resources can either be ones at their PSI or online systems.
Move to slide 10 to close the session with an overview of the next meeting, “Pathfinder Quest: I’m New”. Explain that the next session will have students explore their PSI’s degree sheets and relate interests to potential majors. Be sure to include the date, time, and location of the next session.
Follow-Up
Pathfinder Quest is a five-part workshop series designed to guide first-year college students through a meaningful and confident transition into college life. You just completed part one. We recommend moving to part two “Pathfinder Quest: I’m New” next.
Research Rationale
First Generation College Students (FGCS) lack the social capital of their middle-to-upper-class peers and thus struggle in their college and career readiness experiences (Almeida, D et al., 2019). Social capital is defined as the relationships you develop in your personal and professional life that provide support and guidance. Research indicates that FGCSs struggle to build social capital due to a lack of experience and knowledge stemming from their familial, social, and economic background. Structured programs on post-secondary institution campuses that are readily available and convenient help bridge the gap between FGCSs and their peers (Dernberger, 2025).
Social Capital
At the post-secondary level, social capital refers to the relationships and interactions that students build with peers, faculty, and professionals. These connections provide valuable resources and support, such as information about career opportunities and access to academic and extracurricular activities. Thompson et al. (2023) explain that students had better academic and career opportunities after utilizing their campus Career Services than those who did not. However, students from lower socioeconomic families are less likely to possess valuable information about college success, leading to less access to campus resources than their higher socioeconomic peers (Dernberger, 2025; Almeida et al., 2019). Studies suggest that developing social capital between students and faculty is essential for students' development, positively impacting academic achievement and retention. (Almeida et al., 2019). Students often have difficulty with the career decision-making process, and campus resources, such as Career Services departments, help ease this process by considering the student’s personality, interests, and background.
Resources
Almeida, D., Byrne, A., Smith, R., & Ruiz, S. (2019). How Relevant Is Grit? The Importance of Social Capital in First-Generation College Students’ Academic Success. Journal of College Student Retention, 23(3), 539-559. https://doi.org/10.1177/1521025119854688
Dernberger, B. N. (2025). Inequality in the College-to-Career Transition: Building Career-Relevant Cultural and Social Capital on Campus. Sociology Compass, 19(3). https://doi.org/10.1111/soc4.70041
K20 Center. (2021, September 21). 2 Minute Timer. YouTube. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcEEAnwOt2c
K20 Center. (2021, September 21). 3 Minute Timer. YouTube. https://youtu.be/iISP02KPau0?si=_xXj2Yy2ruZbdWaH
K20 Center. (n.d.). 3-2-1. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/117
K20 Center. (n.d.). Human Bingo. Strategies. https://learn.k20center.ou.edu/strategy/3888
Thompson, D., Dent, H., & Fine, M. (2023). Factors Related to a College Student’s Career Optimism and Their Perception of Career Services. Higher Education Quarterly, 77(3), 395–409.https://doi.org/10.1111/hequ.12408
