Campus Climate Series Prepares Seniors for Their Next Step

“Are you guys hungry?” Monique Chan ’09 asked a group of seniors gathered for her “Road Not Taken” breakout session during Senior Week. The pastry chef, who has worked in Michelin-starred kitchens including The French Laundry and Dominique Ansel, passed around slices of homemade coffee cake while sharing archival photos from her time at Poly. Her session focused on unconventional paths after high school and the challenge of making decisions without relying on outside validation.

Monique was one of four alumni speakers featured in this year’s Navigating the New Campus Climate series, a program organized by Upper School Faculty Will Mason, Adam Feldmeth, and Garine Zetlian that prepares graduating seniors for the realities of college life. Now in its third year, the series has evolved alongside changing conversations on college campuses and among students themselves.

“What began three years ago to prepare students for college has evolved every year based on what we recognize is meaningful,” said Adam.

Past programs addressed campus protests, First Amendment rights, and civil discourse through conversations with Poly alums who are journalists and university legal counsel. This year’s event focused on the transition to college itself, including separation from family, mental health, academic accommodations, and navigating political conversations on campus. Upper School Counselor Andrea Fleetham moderated the plenary session before students split into smaller breakout groups based on their interests.

“With this year’s panel, we wanted to cover all aspects of separation when students go to college,” said Garine. “We had many different questions about what students can ask themselves during this time of transition.”

Jess Liu Eisenlohr ’04 P ’39, a licensed clinical neuropsychologist specializing in pediatric and sports neuropsychology, led a session on accessing academic support and accommodations in college. Students discussed tutoring services, working with advisors, and advocating for their learning needs on campus.

“Poly built a foundation of preparedness. You have the tools and skills to do anything you want. The hard part is you’re not limited in going after what you want,” said Jess during Garland’s panel discussion.

Alex S. Maddox ’06, a therapist trained in Dialectical Behavioral Therapy and Trauma-Focused Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, focused on the emotional side of transition. Her breakout session addressed leaving home, maintaining relationships, and building new communities in unfamiliar environments.

“Be gentle and easy with yourself,” Alex advised students. “It’s okay to have mixed feelings about what is happening.”

Lauren Osen-Martín ’03 P ’38 of Apple Podcasts and formerly a senior producer at KPCC LAist, led discussions about political discourse and media literacy on college campuses. Students explored how to navigate disagreement and engage thoughtfully with peers holding different viewpoints.

“Modern media is not built for dialogue,” Lauren shared in her breakout session. “It rewards outrage, speed, and certainty and silos us in chambers.”

The sessions reflected broader concerns that students bring with them into college life. While previous years focused more heavily on politics and campus activism, this year’s conversations often returned to mental health and self-advocacy. Students asked questions about loneliness, pressure, uncertainty, and how to ask for support when needed.

Monique’s session tied many of those themes together through her own story. After leaving Poly, she pursued a demanding career in professional kitchens rather than following a more conventional path. She spoke candidly about the pressure to make the “right” choice at a young age and the importance of allowing priorities to change over time.

“Try to balance equanimity with aspiration,” Monique said. “I thought every decision would affect the course of my life. Defend what you need to do to know yourself fully.”

The Navigating the New Campus Climate series is part of broader work connected to the Portrait of a Poly Graduate and the school’s effort to prepare students for life beyond campus. The series had a bittersweet note this year, as Will Mason will leave Poly after eight years to join his alma mater and be closer to family. Adam and Garine acknowledge they can never fully replace Will or the generative discourse he brought to the group, but they hope to maintain their triad-style structure to sustain their initiative.

“The hope is that the Campus Climate series will be offered every year as part of senior activities,” Adam said. “We’re trying to build a program for students who are excited for what comes next but also nervous, and trying to create a program that is responsive to the times.”