Find Your Community During Week of Welcome

Aug. 13, 2026

College is about more than attending class. It's about making connections, discovering new opportunities and finding a community where you belong. Dallas College's Week of Welcome (WOW) is designed to help you do exactly that with events held throughout the week of Aug. 24 that bring together food, fun, music, student organizations and campus resources.

For Kent Ho, one of the biggest lessons learned during the first semester was realizing just how many resources are available.

"You don't have to struggle through the entire first semester," Ho said. "You've got a success coach; you've got the people in Financial Aid, the people in Student Life. They will help you along the way."

During his first semester at Dallas College, Adan Garcia says, he wished he had Adan Garcia (far right) poses with friends at campus event. known that it’s OK to not have everything figured out.

“When I first started college, I felt like I needed to know exactly what I was doing and where I was going. Over time, I learned that college is also about discovering yourself, trying new things, meeting new people and finding where you belong.”

Finding where you belong was also a bit part of Ho’s Dallas College journey. He says what surprised him most about Dallas College, when he first started, was the welcoming atmosphere.

"It's a community college, so it's a very tight-knit community. Everyone's always friendly."

That sense of community is one reason he encourages new students to make the most of their college experience by getting involved.

Kent Ho displays awards he received at last spring's Sneaker Ball. “Join a club or organization,” Ho advised. “There are many student organizations, like SGA [Student Government Association] and SPACE [Student Programs and Campus Engagement]. Anyone can volunteer or join any time. You don't have to be here at Dallas College just to go to class and leave.”

Adan echoes the importance of getting involved. “What surprised me most was how much college can change you when you allow yourself to get involved. I didn't realize how many opportunities Dallas College had outside of the classroom. Getting involved with Student Engagement eventually led me to become the Richland Campus SPACE Commander, something I never would have imagined during my first semester.”

His advice to new students: “Don't give up. Be kind, be selfless and be OK with not knowing. You don't have to have your entire life or college journey figured out during your first semester. Ask questions, make mistakes, meet new people and give yourself the opportunity to grow. Sometimes the things you don't expect to happen become some of the best parts of your college experience.”

Week of Welcome offers the perfect opportunity to take Garcia and Ho’s advice. Whether you’re exploring campus resources, meeting classmates or learning about student organizations, the week's events can help you build connections that last throughout the year.

See the full list of WOW events.

• Events