I was one of those kids that grew up in the 80s and 90s (born 1981) when apathy was cool and being different was still an upward trend. “Getting involved” with clubs was so apropos. Being in a different place now, personally, and seeing the consciousness of the human global community connecting and expanding together through travel, cross cultural experience and the almighty internet. The first thing you MUST DO is get Involved with a club of interest, join an organization of choice cause, or create a group for the people in your field of study or other community that hits close to home and heart. This is your ground zero. A few other things you must do at San Francisco State University:
#1. Explore the Cesar Chavez Building the most dynamic building on campus with an arcade and pool hall next to the lower level food court, an art gallery and the really neat multi level “Rigoberta Menchu Hall” for studying and napping on the Terrace level (where many student orgs have their offices by the way), the book store and info kiosk on the ground level as well as the main food court where people have lively group study with their yummy eats, and the quad is right outside where celebrations, memorials, and relevant local and global events are recognized.
#2. Build relationships with mentors and students that you really connect with as if they are with you for life. Because in one sense or another, if their impact is strong, they ARE with you for life. Many of these persons will be your colleagues in the field throughout your career, or better yet, good friends through the ups and downs of life. And you will meet a diverse group of people both from around the Bay Area and around the world.
#3. You must look into the study abroad options. If you are at all like me and have the desire to see the world but not to take on the financial obligation, CSU IP is perfect for you. You pay just the same in tuition as if you were home, and the person from somewhere in the world that comes to a CSU campus pays the fees at their home campus. That is the exchange part. I applied to go to Granada, Spain, and halfway through that year, I had the intuition that I was having an experience that would forever change my world, so I applied for a second year (this time in Santiago, Chile). The limit for study abroad is four semesters. I could not imagine this life of mine without my study abroad experience! The school motto is Experientia Docet (experience teaches) after all.
If you’re interested in San Francisco State University, check out our article on things you must avoid at SFSU.
#4. Check out the Charles F. Hager Planetarium on the roof of Thornton Hall. Not only is it super cool to see more than a thousand stars, planets, and both the sun and moon so clearly; but, the opportunity to see campus from that perspective can give one a new sense of what it means to be part of the SFSU campus and part of planet Earth. Anew perspective rocks your world!
#5. Last, but certainly not least, do not take yourself too seriously- it can be habit-forming! Live and make mistakes, own your voice- both the negative and positive things you have to share, remember to follow your heart and gut- because the body knows what the mind cannot. The rest will eventually fall away or follow anyway.
Love your life, love your SFSU experience!
Holly Alexis Sisson, MA, is an SFSU Alumna of 2011. She has two Bachelor of Art degrees in Psychology and Spanish.