Annie Vainshtein
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Materials engineering senior Kelly Stewart knew she belonged at Cal Poly before she was an official student.
After being accepted, Stewart visited the campus, but couldn’t see herself enjoying the school. Then, she heard a song by Black Moth Super Radio playing over the loudspeakers and was stunned — she didn’t expect it at all.
“I feel like I stopped mid-sentence,” Stewart said. “It was the first semblance of an underground culture scene at Cal Poly.”
She discovered Cal Poly’s radio station, KCPR, and committed to Cal Poly. She joined the radio station fall quarter of her freshman year, working as a DJ, business director and program director.
KCPR directly impacted her friend group as well as her interest in leadership roles. Stewart described KCPR as a “culture of camaraderie” where people can bond over their love for music.
Though after graduation she will work at a mill in Pittsburgh — melting and making steel — KCPR will always be home for Stewart.
“By nature of the beast, it’s a transient place,” Stewart said. “But I feel like I’m ready to hand it down to the next generation.”
Stewart found her niche early on, but she said it’s not always the same for others. She said it’s easy to get discouraged, but everyone has a place — you just have to find it.
“It’s a lot of trial and error,” Stewart said. “When you find a weird flyer in Kennedy Library, go to the meeting. It doesn’t just have to be a club — talk to the person who sits next to you in class. You’ll find it.”
General engineering senior Kea Jolicoeur found her place at Cal Poly by doing just that. Jolicoeur was raised in Tahoe City, Calif., and her family owned an adventure sports company. She initially didn’t know if she wanted to pursue that at Cal Poly.
“I joined Poly Escapes my sophomore year after a friend dragged me to a meeting I didn’t want to go to,” Jolicoeur said.
Jolicoeur worked her way up to trip leader in three quarters, which is rare for the program. Through Poly Escapes, she also connected with California Alpine Guides, where she developed her interest in professional guiding.
Her initial reaction to Poly Escapes was negative, but giving it a second chance changed the course of her college career.
“Poly Escapes is a big part of the reason I stayed at Cal Poly,” Jolicoeur said. “When I was sad or angry or wanted to kill engineering, it made it totally worth it to stay — the friends and connections you make through it stay as well.”
Part of the reason she loves Poly Escapes is because it pushes people out of their comfort zones.
“I love bringing new people outside and watching the expressions on their face when they experience something for the first time,” she said. “I really want people to just go for it.”
On her list of post-graduation plans is traveling through Iceland, as well as teaching a Robotics class at Stanford University for incoming high school girls, getting her wilderness EMT license and eventually starting her own company building and designing backpack gear.
Jolicoeur almost didn’t join Poly Escapes, so she advises everyone to take a chance.
“Watch your mental limitations,” she said. “Most people set limitations with challenges, but you’ve got to go for it or try — find a friend and if she tries to drag you to something, go to it.”
Biological sciences senior Cale Reid started off his time at Cal Poly with a bang. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for the College of Science and Mathematics, and has been involved with Associated Students, Inc. (ASI) since January of his freshman year.
He started off volunteering, but eventually worked his way up to a spot on the executive cabinet, serving under the ASI president.
In addition, Reid works for the Alumni Association and is a Poly Rep. Through the combination of these three things, Reid said he found his place at Cal Poly, and a large part of it had to do with reaching out to people.
Originally from Wisconsin, Reid didn’t know anyone when he first came to Cal Poly. It was intimidating joining ASI as a freshman, he said, but he soon realized he wanted to “step up to the plate.”
“If you get involved, you can really make an impact,” he said. “It’s really powerful.”
In August, Reid will start graduate school at the University of San Francisco, where he will study biotechnology.
Reid said at first glance, he wanted to join every club, but dedicating his attention to a few things paid off.
“You can’t do everything; just be in two really important things and devote your energy to that,” he said. “You’ll be more successful and happier that way.”