From the Coastline: How U-FIRST 2025 Cultivates Growth and Leadership Through Nature

Haikou, China · April 2025

As the spring breeze returns, it once again signals the beginning of “U-FIRST: Nature and the Human Spirit.” This year, the second edition of the course at the Hainan University-Arizona State University International College (HAIC) brought together 62 first-year students and, for the first time, introduced a student mentor system, making the journey warmer through peer companionship.

A Familiar Course, A New Kind of Support

Led jointly for the first time by Professors Yuhua (Melody) Xu and Happiness Kiemi and supported by amazing HAIC administrative team Xiao Han, Ming Qu and Hengjia Zhang, U-FIRST represents a fresh challenge and an opportunity for growth even for the educators themselves.

“U-FIRST is a fun and challenging experiential course designed especially for HAIC freshmen,” the designer of the course, Nate Bricker, explained. “This ‘Nature and the Human Spirit’ course fully utilizes the unique natural and marine environment of Hainan Island, combining outdoor experiences and teamwork to help students better adapt to college life, build meaningful connections, and develop leadership and a sense of responsibility.”

While the course continues its original intent—to help students adjust to college through nature-based experiences—the biggest change is the addition of 10 warm-hearted mentors, who were senior alumni of the course from last year and volunteered to guide the HAIC freshmen cohort through the learning process.

“We were thrilled at the opportunity to join U-FIRST again and excited to pass on our experience to our junior colleagues” mentor Xu Ziqing recalled. “At first, everyone was quiet—just like we were last year—but once we got on the sailboats, shouting commands and getting soaked by waves, everything came alive. This course always has a kind of magic—it pushes you toward growth.”

Discovering Ourselves Through Nature

U-FIRST is more than just an orientation course; it’s a doorway into nature, and into the self.

During the mangrove exploration, many students found themselves immersed in nature for the first time beyond the classroom. “I was overwhelmed with assignments and exams recently,” one student wrote. “But walking through the trees, I felt lighter, like my mind could finally breathe.” Another shared, “Nature isn’t just a background—it’s like a patient friend, gently healing my stress without me realizing it.”

During the beach cleanup, the sense of duty deepened. “Nature has given us so much beauty, and we often take it for granted,” one student reflected. “This time, I started thinking about how I can give back, not just take.”

Every Wave is a Conversation with Nature

The sailing and surfing activities offered more than excitement—they revealed the raw energy of engaging with the natural world.

In one sailing race, a near mishap taught an unforgettable lesson. “I thought I had ruined it all,” said a student who was steering the boat. “But the wind didn’t stop, the sea didn’t wait and neither did we. We worked together, adjusted and made a perfect final turn.” These moments go beyond technical skills—they are about learning to find rhythm with chaos, to cooperate with nature rather than fight against it.

Another student described being knocked over repeatedly while surfing, but standing up each time. “Don’t fear the waves,” they wrote. “They’re just telling you how to move with them. Nature isn’t an enemy—it’s a challenging friend.”

From “Me” to “We”: The Power of the Team

U-FIRST emphasizes not just individual growth but the awakening of a team spirit through shared responsibility. Whether sailing, beach clean-up, surfing or team-building challenges, students came to understand that leadership isn’t about commanding, it’s about mutual trust and support.

“We stopped blaming and started cheering each other on,” a student reflected. “The positive energy spread through the team like the wave.”

Many students expressed a profound shift in their relationship with nature after the course: “Nature isn’t a still landscape. It resonates with our spirit. It slows us down and helps us notice the quiet beauty we’ve been missing in our busy lives.”

U-FIRST is More Than a Course

At the conclusion of the course, students became certified first aid volunteers through the Red Cross, environmental advocates organizing beach cleanups and thoughtful explorers engaging in deep discussions about the relationship between humans and nature around the campfire.

U-FIRST continues to grow, using wind, waves, forests and shorelines to offer a stage for students to reflect on life, discover themselves and connect with the natural world.

Written by Yu-Hua Xu, assistant teaching professor in the School of Community Resources and Development, Hainan University-Arizona State University International College (HAIC).