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Finding a Home Away from Home at CSUF

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“I knew that the only way I could make this school feel like home was to get involved, so I did what I knew best — student government.”

— Jacob Fry, communications major

Knowing absolutely nobody and having no familiarity with the area 350 miles away from my northern California hometown of Stockton, I started my first year of college at Cal State Fullerton.

During the first few months, I was in a complete state of discomfort at the university.

Being a freshman, as most of us know, is terrifying, and being able to get out of my already uncomfortable comfort zone was a huge challenge.

I knew that the only way I could make this school feel like home was to get involved, so I did what I knew best — student government. I applied to be a part of the Spring Concert creative team at Associated Students Inc., and thankfully I got the chance to plan — in my opinion — the coolest event that CSUF has to offer.

And from there on, I continued to get more involved with ASI and the university because I knew that this school could and would eventually become my home. I now serve as the union and special programming coordinator for ASI, where I help students by putting on special events.

I am also an orientation leader, a student at large for ASI’s Association of Intercultural Awareness and a member of the Academic Senate’s Information Technology Committee and the Campus Facilities and Beautification Committee, where I advocate for students.

At the end of the day, what I learned from this experience is that CSUF can be your home; you just have to look for your place.


Jacob Fry is a communications major with a concentration in entertainment and tourism, business minor in entertainment and hospitality management. Jacob is expecting to graduate in 2022.