I've Been a CSUF Titan for 10 Years. Here's a Look Back at Some of the Highlights and Takeaways.

Whatever course the rest of my life takes, one thing is certain: 美国加州州立大学富尔顿分校 will always hold a special place in my heart and in my life experience.

My journey as a CSUF Titan began a decade ago this August, when I arrived for classes as an undergraduate. Initially planning to major in business, I switched my focus to communications due to my inability to pass the rigorous math coursework required for a business degree.

Ultimately, I would earn my B.A. in communications - public relations in 2015 and my M.A. in communications - professional communications in 2018 from the CSUF College of Communications, all the while gaining from the expertise and insights of a diverse, committed and supportive faculty.

But ironically, even though I only took two business courses, it would be the Cal State Fullerton, College of Business and Economics that would most define my life this past decade, as I started a job as a writer for the college's blog in June 2014, a position that broadened to include web editing, managing creative projects and strategic communications for the largest business college on the West Coast.

A lion's share of my experience and connections in the higher education, journalism and communications spheres are directly due to my employment at the business college, which in turn would never have had happened were I not a Titan student.

If I were to truly chronicle my experience these past 10 years, it would probably take a small volume that most of my readers wouldn't have time to parse through (and I wouldn't have time to write).

But here are a few highlights I'd like to recall:

First Day of Classes - Aug. 26, 2013

I had been planning to pursue a bachelor's degree through the Cal State system for more than a year. Still, nothing compares to that first day of arriving on campus. And discovering there was nowhere to park. And marveling at just how busy and diverse this university truly was (and is). But also finding my professors - Cynthia King , Robert Mead and Jodi Jewell - to be very supportive.

For most young people, the first day of university classes is a milestone. How much more for me, considering my first day at CSUF was just one year removed from taking my first course in a classroom at any level. Since I had been homeschooled throughout my upbringing.

In time, I found ways around the dilemmas of scarce parking and long commutes - parking in the neighborhoods, taking afternoon/evening courses only, prioritizing Friday as a day to be on campus due to easier parking and less morning traffic.

Where there's a will, there's a way.

And a word to today's students: You have it so easy with parking since hybrid schedules and virtual classes mean there are fewer people on campus at one time. Count your blessings!

Working for Associated Students Inc. (ASI) - Spring 2014

Perhaps it could be said that no one has had the full Titan experience without being involved in the student government in some way. I was no exception.

In spring 2014, I took a part-time job helping market and plan the student government elections.

The rah-rah environment might not have been the best setting for my temperament. But I learned a lot about college life. And met some really fascinating people, including an exchange student from Shanghai, my first time learning about China from a primary source.

Getting Hired at the Business College - June 2, 2014

Maybe this date is truly the most significant of my CSUF career thus far.

A few months before, while on a lunch break while helping open the Nordstrom Rack location in my hometown of Riverside, I walked over to Staples and used a demo laptop to check my email. I was signed up for job alerts at the university and came across a writing job at the business college. I knew writing was my strength, so I applied.

Two months later, I was called for an interview with Kathleen Drake and Maritza Powell who were overseeing the college's marketing. Presenting them a portfolio of my school assignments, they were impressed and ultimately hired me.

My first big project was writing, proofing and editing large portions of the 2014-2015 alumni magazine, the first of five print magazines I contributed to before the college switched to a digital format.

In the more than nine years since, I have written well over 1,000 articles in the college's service, covering alumni, students, faculty research and business trends. And along the way built my LinkedIn network from coworkers to White House staff.

Graduation - May 16, 2015

Like many of my fellow Titans, I am the first in my family to earn a college degree.

Back in those days, commencement was on a weekend, and I walked at the College of Communications ceremony on a Saturday.

It was a long day - from 6 a.m. to mid-afternoon. But the "May gray" weather made it comfortable.

My coworker, classmate and summa cum laude grad Sharon Don was the commencement speaker (I only earned magna cum laude).

Sadly, my mother, who was responsible for most of my education prior to arriving at CSUF, wasn't able to attend my commencement due to illness. She ultimately died three months later.

Since my undergrad graduation, I have had the privilege of supporting other commencement events in other ways, including writing informational content or serving as an announcer for queuing grads. Commencement is my favorite day at Cal State Fullerton. It is always so exciting and refreshing as I remember my milestone and think of how special the day is to so many families.

Grad School - 2015-2017

If being an undergrad sometimes felt overwhelming with massive class sizes, grad school was a bit more approachable. The communications grad programs at Cal State Fullerton are quite small. It isn't uncommon to have a class of five students!

One such course studied American media history with Anthony Fellow . It was such an honor and experience working on my first professional film project with Titan Communications, CSUF as part of this course (discussing media coverage of the 2016 elections and U.S. Supreme Court developments).

Communications grad students have an option to either pursue a thesis or an applied project. I chose the latter because I wanted as much career exposure as I could have.

My consulting project was with the Greater Coachella Valley Chamber of Commerce , a recently merged chamber representing the eastern Coachella Valley, a community known internationally for the annual Coachella and Stagecoach festivals. I got that chamber of commerce up and running with a social media strategy, largely based on my experience at the business college. What an honor to help a community that way!

The Near Misses, 2018/2019

I can honestly say I'm lucky to have survived me first year or two in the workforce after graduation. Literally.

Commuting 60 miles each day resulted in some dangerous experiences, including two instances of driving home through hillside wildfires and a serious car accident at full speed on the 91 Freeway when a car illegally exited the express lane, sending me into a spinout at 70 mph.

Add to that getting pneumonia and missing by a few minutes a fatal stabbing at the on-campus parking lot where I usually park on workdays.

These events helped me appreciate how precious and fragile life is. And helped me reconnect spiritually with the faith I grew up in.

None of this would have been my experience if I was not at Cal State Fullerton.

Making an Impact: On Campus and in Togo - May 2019

Even in our globalized times, we don't often meet members of the West African upper class. But thanks to my job at Cal State Fullerton, I had the privilege of meeting Praise Dekpoh , an international student from Togo who was the 2019 business college commencement speaker.

I remember seeing Togo on the world map as a child and noting the capital city of Lomé, which rhymed with the much better known Rome. But I had little clue of what life was like there until I spoke with Dekpoh to write an article highlighting her.

Independent of my job, the two of us decided to help market Togo as a tourist destination and international investment hub through a personal blog post and social media content, which in turn got me connected higher and higher in Togolese society on LinkedIn. Ultimately, to the country's president-for-life Faure Gnassingbe himself!

Just goes to show the truly global reach you have as a Titan!

COVID at CSUF - 2020/2021

All of us were impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, but the shift was particularly striking at Cal State Fullerton, where overnight, one of the busiest campuses in the world turned into a ghost town.

In February 2020, my coworkers and I went to the roof of the University House apartments to take some photos for the business college's stock photography. For the first time in my Titan experience, I saw the campus in all of its grandeur. It truly is a small city!

Little did I know that a month later, the bustling campus culture would be only a memory, as classes were cancelled, dorms and apartments emptied out, and employees started telecommuting.

On the evening of Thursday, March 19, I left work not knowing that I would not return to my office for nearly 18 months!

I never anticipated I'd work from home. But Cal State Fullerton truly did all it could to make the transition easy for students and staff.

When I returned to the campus on Monday, Aug. 2, 2021, a lot had changed. The business college had a new name and we had a new dean. But the Titan spirit was - and is - resilient.

Now, in this world of Zoom meetings, hybrid schedules and AI-focused curriculum, it continues to be an honor helping my alma mater continue its mission to educate the next generation of business professionals.

And a new generation it is. Over the past decade, I've seen the millennial-focused campus environment shift in favor of Generation Z, today's young people who are going to college and entering the workforce.

Now, I'm having the experience of seeing a new generation come of age, along with the responsibility of being a good example and role model to my younger coworkers and peers.

THINGS TODAY'S TITANS WILL NEVER KNOW...A LOT HAS CHANGED SINCE MY DAY!
 - Logging in to your student portal without duo authentication
 - Stack parking - giving your keys to an attendent who will park your
car when space becomes available 
 - Waiting in line at Parking and Transportation Services for a parking
permit
 - Running the Undie Run on the Thursday before commencement
 - Getting your photo taken next to the statue of Steven G. Mihaylo
 - Finding your name and grade on a paper sheet posted on the door of your
professor's office
 - The elephant logo as the official brand of the university
 - Having CD-ROMs among your course materials
 - Watching the university's new parody of "Baby Shark"        

Making the Most of Your Titan Experience

Having been an undergrad, graduate student and staff member, I've seen the Titan experience through three lenses.

I certainly don't have the many decades of experience that some of my Titan elders have, but I do feel competent enough to give some advice to new members of the CSUF community.

First, for students:

• Make the university smaller by getting to know your professors and getting involved in a club or activity related to your major.
• Stay on track through academic advising each and every semester. It's great being a student. But you also want to complete your degree on time to best prepare for your future. And the CSUF academic staff is here to help!
• Use the opportunity of studying at such a diverse and international campus to expand your knowledge of the world. Talk with your professor and classmates (especially international students) about what life is like in their country. And take full advantage of the ethnic themed events held on campus that allow you to explore the world without ever leaving campus.
• If you are a commuter, consolidate your class schedule to only be on campus two or three days each week. But plan to be there all day on those days. That's the best way to maximize your experience while avoiding burnout.
• Expand your knowledge while staying true to who you are. College is about growing, not conforming. You can stay true to your values, personality and desires while becoming a better version of yourself.

Second, for staff:

• Take advantage of the perks of working at a university. Library borrowing privileges, extended education courses, tuition reimbursement for a graduate degree, lectures about the state of the economy, athletic events, the Arboretum. How can I begin to mention everything?
• Just as with students, you're working in an incredibly diverse place, which is a great opportunity to further discover your world. Get to know your coworkers and bosses from other countries and gain from their perspectives and experiences.
• Give your job your best. You won't be perfect. But doing a good job sets you apart and demonstrates a work ethic that will benefit you everywhere you go.

Thank you, Cal State Fullerton, for giving me so many opportunities and playing such a major role in my personal development!