What Fireflies Taught Us About Student Belonging
Jul 11, 2025
In Episode 8 of the Engaged By Design podcast, Vernon shared a fun fact that became something more: a group of fireflies is called a sparkle. That single metaphor lit up our entire conversation about redesigning the First-Year Experience (FYE).
When students arrive on campus for their first semester, many feel lost—like they’ve landed at an unfamiliar airport in the fog. The FYE program can serve as the runway lights, the sparkle that guides them forward. But only if we design it with care.
We explored how to Match the right team, Assign clear roles, Coach with empathy, Reflect frequently, and give Ovation generously. Fireflies and FYE have more in common than you'd think. If your student success work needs a little light, this episode is for you.
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