From August 26 to 28, 2025, to help new students at Peking University’s School of Advanced Materials (SAM) adapt to graduate life and integrate into the Nanyan campus, class advisors and student affairs teachers, in collaboration with the Psychological Center of the Student Affairs Office, invited the experienced Slow Rabbit Psychology counseling team. They organized two engaging and unique adaptive group counseling sessions for the 2025 master’s and doctoral freshmen at Room 303, Building C.
The event kicked off with students grouping themselves based on their favorite colors and drawing exclusive question cards, setting a warm tone for deeper interactions. Guided by the principles of “ease, respect, and connection,” the activities were designed to be progressive and immersive. Each session felt like a warm journey—from initial shyness to bursts of laughter, a lively atmosphere, and natural emotional connections. Let’s relive these wonderful moments together!
Activity 1: Finger Connection, Sparking Bonds
The first activity, “T-Shape Connection,” quickly ignited the atmosphere. Students linked hands with the two classmates beside them in a “T” shape, grabbing their neighbors’ fingers upon a signal. This fast-paced, laughter-filled icebreaker not only shattered the initial silence and unfamiliarity but also helped everyone relax, with increasing eye contact and smiles.
Activity 2: Expressive Introductions, Echoes of Joy
Following the icebreaker, the facilitator guided the students in a unique self-introduction activity. Standing in a circle, each student paired their name with an exaggerated gesture, while others cheered their name and mimicked the action. The playful rhythm helped everyone memorize names quickly, fostering initial rapport amidst laughter and enthusiastic responses.
Activity 3: Card Conversations, Sharing True Selves
The session then moved to deeper exchanges. In pairs, students discussed questions from the cards they had drawn earlier, which were tailored to academic life and personal reflections. These prompts encouraged sharing genuine attitudes, experiences, and even uncertainties. Through attentive listening and sincere responses, students not only exchanged stories and perspectives but also quietly built trust and resonance—transforming surface-level greetings into authentic understanding and empathy.
Activity 4: Express Box, Co-Creating Voices
Guided by the facilitator, students identified their life attitudes through an “animal type” framework and teamed up with like-minded peers. Each group selected a representative, brainstormed together, crafted a slogan, and designed a poster. The discussions were lively, filled with humor and candid exchanges, creating a warm and dynamic atmosphere. Finally, group representatives shared insights on their personality traits, strengths, weaknesses, and strategies for tackling future academic challenges. The enthusiastic responses from the audience pushed the event’s energy to its peak.
Through these carefully designed, progressive activities, students transitioned from casual acquaintances to true companions in just an hour and a half, embodying the true essence of “breaking the ice.” Amidst laughter and joy, the adaptive group counseling sessions concluded successfully. These sessions not only accelerated bonding and mutual recognition among the 2025 freshmen, laying a solid emotional foundation for class cohesion, academic collaboration, and campus life, but also empowered them to embrace the opportunities and challenges of Nanyan with confidence and ease.
