Helping Future Aggies Find Home: Kendra Alfaro ’27 in Action

Alfaro comes from Laredo, Texas, and grew up in a predominantly Hispanic community. When it came time to transition to college life in her freshman year, the transition felt overwhelming. “I was really afraid to leave my hometown,” she said. “I want prospective students to feel safe coming into a new environment.”

Now a Residence Life tour guide, Alfaro brings her perspective and experience with her on every tour. After learning about the position through a friend, she saw it as an opportunity to share her story while giving others insight into life on campus and living in the residence halls.

“I remember my first campus tour as a prospective student,” she said. “I thought the student workers were so cool because they went to A&M and worked here. Becoming a tour guide myself feels really full circle.”

Building Connections Through Campus Tours

What Alfaro enjoys most about her role is the chance to connect with people.

“My favorite part is hearing other students’ stories,” she said. “Sometimes I can relate to them, and other times I get to encourage them and share my love for A&M.”

A typical day on the job as a tour guide includes preparing tour spaces, ensuring the desk area is organized and leading 30-minute or 1-hour-long tours of various residential areas.

Growing Skills and New Interests

Through her role in Residence Life, Alfaro has developed skills that she will use beyond campus tours. Throughout the rest of her career, she will utilize the communication and organization skills the job has taught her.

Currently an economics major, Alfaro has also discovered a growing interest in marketing and social media, introduced to her by the relationships and connections she’s made through Residence Life and the Aggie Network.

“Talking to people every day has helped me to realize how much I love connecting with others,” she said. “Those conversations and connections have really shaped my interests.”

Finding Home in Aggieland

For Alfaro, College Station has become a true home away from home.

“My freshman year, I didn’t really know how to acclimate until I joined student organizations,” she said. “Now Aggieland feels like family. The Aggie Network makes it feel welcoming and supportive.”

That sense of community is especially visible during Aggieland Saturday, one of the busiest days of the year on campus for both tours and visitors.

“It’s a huge event, and it can feel chaotic,” Alfaro said. “My advice is to stay hydrated, take it all in and embrace the Aggie hospitality and the Aggie Network.”

For Future Aggies

When asked what advice she would offer incoming students, Alfaro encourages them to approach their first year with patience.

“You’re in a new environment and doing something completely out of your comfort zone,” she said. “If you struggle or make mistakes, that’s okay. Everything is a learning experience, and it takes time.”

Through her work as a Residential Life tour guide, Kendra Alfaro continues to turn her own journey into reassurance for others, helping future Aggies feel at home.