Transitioning into a new academic environment can be overwhelming, but the University of Saint Louis Tuguegarao’s Guidance and Counseling Center is making sure that transferees and freshmen across all levels are not alone in the journey.
This year’s Freshmen Readiness and Adjustment Program (FRAP) unfolded from June to September 2025, with activities designed for elementary, junior high, senior high, and college students. Each program was carefully tailored to help Louisians embrace new beginnings with confidence, balance, and resilience.
Elementary
To welcome transferees from Kinder to Grade 6, the Guidance Center facilitated a Campus Tour on June 26, 2025, as part of the BES L.E.A.P. (Learner Enhancement and Enrichment Program) 4ward. The tour aimed to familiarize pupils with their new learning environment while fostering comfort and belongingness.
On the same day, Growth Sessions were conducted for Grade 1 to Grade 6 transferees at the Old EMC. The sessions featured Ms. Mae Zarah D. Alejo, RPm who shared insights in “Ready, Set, School: Helping Young Learners Adjust to Elementary Life,” and Ms. Zarah Mae M. Manangan, RPm, CHRA who discussed “Tick-Tock Study Clock: Developing Study Habits.”
Junior High School
For Grade 7 students, the Seminar on Personal Growth and School Adjustment was held on August 27, 2025, at the James Ter Meer Gymnasium with the theme “Level Up: Adjusting with Awareness and Confidence in Junior High.” The talks focused on self-awareness, healthy habits, and navigating adolescence. Mr. Geoffrey Paulino M. Zingapan, CPA gave a talk about “Me: Building Self-Awareness in a New Environment,” while Ms. Bettina C. Baculfo, RPm, CBA shared on the topic “Belonging and Becoming: Developing Healthy Habits for School and Life.”
Senior High School
For Grade 11 students, the FRAP session was held on September 24, 2025, at the James Ter Meer Gymnasium with the theme “Seasons and Transitions: Turning Changes and Challenges to Milestones.
The program featured Mr. Clyde Howell C. Pasaraba, RPm, who spoke on “School Climate: Navigating Challenges and Thriving in New Seasons,” and Mr. Arthur Jude C. Lozano, RPm, with his talk titled “A Period of Storm and Stress: Dealing with Social Anxieties and Emotional Rollercoasters for Teenagers.”
College Unit
The college-level FRAP was conducted on September 18–19, 2025, under the subprogram MATCHA (Moving towards Advance Learning to Transform Louisian Students in Achieving Academic Success) with the theme “Balancing the Load: Building Healthy Study Habits and Well-Being.” Alumni speakers shared personal and professional insights across the departments including Arch. Maria Iris C. Udarbe-Foronda, UAP, ENP for the School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering (SACE), Dr. Dorothy Joy P. Cumigad for the School of Health and Allied Sciences (SHAS), Ms. Abigail T. Adducul, RPm, CHRA for the School of Education, Criminology, Arts and Psychology (SECAP), and Mr. Drixler T. Rivera, CPA for the School of Accountancy, Business and Hospitality (SABH).
Beyond the seminars for college students, FRAP will integrate psychosocial level 2 subprograms to address the social and family domains of student life:
FRAP C.H.O.C.O. (Challenges and Opportunities in Communication, Openness to Others and New Experiences) – fostering peer relationships and openness to collaboration.
FRAP F.O.R.E.S.T. (Fostering Healthy Family Relationship, Education and Support System Leading to a Trustworthy Connection) – strengthening family ties and support systems.
Upcoming activities for the college also include initial interviews and EQ test result discussions, ensuring students receive personalized guidance throughout the year.
With FRAP, the Guidance and Counseling Center underscores its mission of accompanying Louisians in every educational stage, from the first step in elementary to the challenges of college, helping them turn changes into milestones and transitions into opportunities for growth.
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