Ariana Hartman and her twin, Alexis, grew up locally, driving past Cal State Fullerton every day. When it was time to choose a college, the sisters decided to chart their own paths.
Ariana enrolled at Cal State Fullerton as a communications major, while Alexis went to San Diego State University to study speech, language and hearing sciences.
“It’s scary when you’re trying to pick a college because it’s going to determine the next four years of your life,” said Ariana.
At CSUF, Ariana committed herself to trying new things and stepping outside of her comfort zone. During her first year, she saw an advertisement looking for Titan Radio DJs and applied.
“I was a little nervous, but I decided to take a chance,” she said. “I knew I wanted to get involved and have some fun.”
Now in her senior year, Ariana hosts a radio show called “Hart to Heart,” where she talks with guests about pop culture, current events, college life, jobs and more.
“Spending time in the Pollak Library studios has been one of the best parts of my time at Cal State Fullerton,” she said. “It’s significantly improved my communication skills.”
“Over the semesters, Ariana has remained dedicated to creating and producing her show, always bringing her own unique touch to our programming,” shared Julio Cesar Reyes, production media specialist for Titan Radio. “Her time at the station embodies what Titan Radio strives to do for our students and community.”
Beyond the radio station, Ariana has served as editorial director of the student-run Tusk Magazine and an anchor for OC News on TitanTV. Her CSUF journey was featured in season 13 of “The College Tour,” a documentary-style series about college life now streaming on Amazon Prime Video.
“Gaining hands-on experience with so many types of media — from magazine writing to news writing to broadcast to radio — has been the highlight of my time here. Where else would you be able to do all of these things? It’s one of the reasons why I came to Cal State Fullerton.”
Outside of her major, Ariana is part of the University Honors Program, for which she is writing a novel titled “Ethereal Bodies Memoir of a Ghostwriter” as part of her senior honors project. She is also the president of Best Buddies, a club that connects CSUF students with local college-age students who have intellectual and developmental disabilities.
“At Cal State Fullerton, I had the opportunity to write my own story,” she said. “What I’ve learned from the experience is to work hard and not be afraid to be a leader or show my creativity. Those are lessons I’ll carry with me throughout my life.”
Ariana and her sister will cheer each other on at their respective commencement ceremonies this spring.
“Alexis has always been there for me and I’m so thankful for her support,” said Ariana. “I’m super proud of what she’s accomplishing at San Diego State, and I’m excited we’ll be able to celebrate each other at commencement.”