The Home Stretch

The start of the new year marks the beginning of another semester. But it also serves as the end of an era for San Diego State University's Class of 2016.

Seniors will begin their final semester on January 20, and while their time as an SDSU student is coming to an end, their Aztec For Life journey is just beginning. 

We caught up with four graduating seniors and asked them to reflect on their time on the Mesa. 

Chelsea Baer, journalism

1) What have you been involved with during your time at SDSU?

During my time at SDSU I have been a member of PSFA College Council, PSFA Civil Core, Associated Students Academic Affairs Committee, SDSU Rotaract and Kappa Delta Sorority.

2) What are some of your accomplishments?

My accomplishments include serving as vice president of public affairs, executive vice president and two terms as president of PSFA College Council. I owe so much of my success at SDSU to being involved with the college council. Being recognized as the most outstanding college council in 2015 by A.S. was one of the most rewarding moments of my college experience.

Getting into Rotaract last year was also a highlight of college. Rotaract has opened so many doors for me and connected me with some of the greatest people I’ve ever met. I am honored to be a part of these student organizations that are committed to serving the SDSU campus and community.

3) What do you hope to accomplish in your final semester at SDSU?

It’s bittersweet to be entering my last semester at SDSU. As my time here comes to an end, I hope to leave behind a legacy of leadership. I want to continue to encourage students to get involved with student organizations and Associated Students before they graduate. After graduation, I plan on becoming a part of the Aztec Mentor Program with career services, so I can give back to the campus that has given so much to me.

4) What are your future goals?

My immediate goal following graduation is to find a job as a television news reporter. I love features and investigative reporting. Long term, it has always been my dream to work for The Today Show in New York City. Hopefully one day I will be able to represent SDSU from Rockefeller Center.

5) What will you miss the most about SDSU?

I will miss the energy on campus. I’ve been so lucky to be on a campus filled with motivated, intelligent movers and shakers for four years. It will be a very strange transition not being around that atmosphere anymore. Also, farmer’s market Thursday! I will miss the Pad Thai.

6) What's the best thing about being an Aztec?

The best thing about being an Aztec is the international network of Aztec alumni. I feel like everywhere I go I find someone who shares a connection to SDSU. I also love our mindset as Aztecs. I think our “I believe” chant is the best example of how optimistic we are at SDSU. Being an Aztec For Life means never settling for second best. 

Ryan Beal, marketing

1) What have you been involved with during your time at SDSU?

During my time at SDSU, I have been happily involved with various organizations on campus. From being a member of the American Marketing Association my first semester to ending my tenure as the president of the Black Business Society at the end of fall 2015, I have seen myself grow exponentially. I have developed both professionally and personally, and will end my last semester as an undergraduate student leader via my roles as executive vice president of the Associated Student Business Council and being part of HOPN. HOPN is a great start-up that focuses on long-distance rideshare, and we were accepted into the Zahn Innovation Center this year!

2) What are some of your accomplishments?

One of my biggest accomplishments this year was learning to let go of my fears. In the past, I let fear hold me back from a myriad of experiences, all because I allowed them to foster doubt in my capabilities. Learning to trust myself and believe in my ability to be great allowed me to not be afraid of failure. In doing so, I received an amazing internship with PepsiCo over the summer, attained a sponsorship for the Black Business Society with the help of a phenomenal executive board and started doing new things that take me out of my normal comfort zone. Overall, these accomplishments have allowed me to transfer what I have learned into applicable knowledge.

3) What do you hope to accomplish in your final semester at SDSU?

During my final semester at SDSU, I hope to continue to foster relationships with my peers and build my professional network. Not only will I connect with professionals off-campus, but also connect with other like-minded students that are headed in the same direction as I am. In addition, I want to continue reading, as it has elevated my diction and allowed me to increase my knowledge and elocution.

4) What are your future goals?

In the future, I plan to continue my efforts to better long distance ridesharing with HOPN. I also want to travel to Italy and Spain to see friends that I met at SDSU who were here studying abroad. As I gain more life experience, a comprehensive goal of mine is to continue learning from others and be fearless in all my endeavors. Everyone will make mistakes, but as long as you make sure the decisions you make today are the right decisions tomorrow, your path will lead you in the right direction.

5) What will you miss the most about SDSU?

I will miss the endless resources and genuine people I have met on campus. I don’t think I need to say location, location, location, but come on, this weather in San Diego? It is amazing! Honestly, I wouldn’t have chosen any other university, as SDSU has been the perfect fit for me. SDSU challenged me and taught me to challenge myself — what more could I have asked for?

6) What's the best thing about being an Aztec?

The best thing about being an Aztec is the camaraderie that we have on campus. From the students to professors and staff, there is an endless support system that allows you to foster the good feels within. Of course you’re going to have your stresses. Without the support of the people I have met on campus (especially as a transfer student), I wouldn’t have enjoyed SDSU half as much. As graduation nears, I look forward to being an Aztec For Life! Until then, I will enjoy my last semester and continue to have wonderful experiences.

Brenna Culliton, Political Science

1) What have you been involved with during your time at SDSU?

During my time at SDSU, I have been involved with Associated Students Community Service Commission, Pre-Law Society, Rotaract, Associated Students Judicial Affairs Council, Associated Students Elections Committee, Weber Honors College, Phi Eta Sigma Freshman Honor Society, Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, Pi Sigma Alpha Political Science Honor Society and the Alpha Gamma Delta sorority.

2) What are some of your accomplishments?

My accomplishments include serving as vice president of scholarship for my sorority, Alpha Gamma Delta, in 2014, and then as president this past year. On the Judicial Affairs Council, I served as a justice last year, and am currently the chief justice. In addition, I am the vice president of Judicial Affairs for Rotaract and the Secretary for Pi Sigma Alpha. I serve as a delegate of Associated Students to the University Senate and was a member of this year's Homecoming Court, which was one of the most fun experiences I've had.

3) What do you hope to accomplish in your final semester at SDSU?

I hope to finish out my time here at SDSU by not only being committed to my remaining leadership roles and doing well in my classes, but also inspiring future leaders on campus. I am involved in the organizations that I am because the people I looked up to took the time to sit and talk with me, and point me in the right direction. I think it is important that students find their place, and that everyone has the power to make a difference on campus.

4) What are your future goals?

I plan on going to law school, preferably in Washington, D.C. I am applying right now and will know in the spring where I will be going. I want to then become a prosecuting attorney and work my way up to becoming a federal judge. My dream job would be a Supreme Court Justice, so I'll just have to wait and see if that's ever a possibility.

5) What will you miss the most about SDSU?

I will miss this beautiful campus and all of the incredible people I have met during my time here. I am graduating after just three years, so it is kind of strange because I don't feel like a senior and I don't feel like I should be graduating yet! The list could go on about what I will miss most — because it is pretty much everything — but most of all it will be the people I have met here, because they have made the most direct and positive impact on my time here at SDSU.

6) What's the best thing about being an Aztec?

The best thing about being an Aztec is the sense of pride that encompasses this campus. Everyone you meet is excited to be an Aztec and excited to be here. Additionally, this university never stops striving to improve in all areas, so it is amazing to know that being an Aztec means being part of a larger community of people who are always striving to be better and more accommodating, regarding both education and social equality.

Mary Vasquez, mechanical engineering

1) What have you been involved with during your time at SDSU?

As a freshman, in the fall of 2012, I joined Gamma Phi Beta Sorority. Then, in the fall of 2014, I was accepted to be a member of SDSU Rotaract. I am also a member of the SDSU Society of BioEngineers.

2) What are some of your accomplishments?

Some of my accomplishments include having the opportunity to work as an intern at SolidProfessor. I was hired there as an engineering intern last fall and will be working there until I graduate in May. I learned about this internship opportunity through the Aztec Career Connection website and if it hadn’t been for that site, I wouldn’t have had the chance to work at this amazing company.

3) What do you hope to accomplish in your final semester at SDSU?

In my final semester I hope to spend a lot of time mentoring the younger students in the organizations I am a part of. During my time at SDSU, I have learned a lot by always having to juggle work and a heavy school schedule, along with extracurricular activities, and I believe it has made me a more responsible and hardworking person. I believe those are good qualities to have when graduating from college and that is some insight that I would love to get across to younger SDSU students.

4) What are your future goals?

One of my future goals is to have a mechanical engineering position designing roller coasters. This has been a goal of mine for a long time and has always been in the back of my mind while pursuing my mechanical engineering degree here at SDSU.

I also am looking into hopefully teaching abroad after I graduate. I have never had the chance to leave the country, but being able to teach in underprivileged areas outside America would be a rewarding experience.

5) What will you miss the most about SDSU?

I will definitely miss the community feeling here at SDSU. This campus does such a great job of making every student feel welcome. The student body is so spirited and supportive of every organization and sports team on campus. I will definitely miss the BCB coffee shop. I’m a daily customer there and probably wouldn’t be graduating if it weren’t for all the coffee I buy there.

6) What's the best thing about being an Aztec?

The best thing about being an Aztec, besides going to school in one of the most beautiful cities in the world, is the rest of the Aztecs at this school. The people here are so genuine and giving to not just this school, but the San Diego community as well. This school lets students be who they want to be, which is very important on a college campus.