I Need This

Transfer students often arrive with a particular maturity and earnestness. They have already experienced change, transition, and the work of finding their footing in a new environment, and they bring that perspective with them to campus. Perhaps because they understand how easily a person can feel like just one face in a crowd, they are often especially attentive to the importance of meaningful connection. They recognize that community does not simply happen—it takes intention, vulnerability, and a willingness to show up and get to know others. Tabling at New Student Orientations this summer saw many connections, especially with students transferring to SDSU. at the end of a brief conversation with a smiling student, I felt surprised by the honesty in her eyes when she shared, "I need this (community) and I'll see you the very first Wednesday."

At a massive university like SDSU, discovering community can be both a necessity and a joy. In a place filled with thousands of students, there is something deeply meaningful about finding a smaller circle where people know your name, notice when you are missing, and make space for you to be fully yourself. Transfer students often seem to appreciate this gift with particular clarity. Their earnestness reminds us that campus life is about more than navigating classes and pursuing a degree; it is also about finding people with whom to share the journey, discovering places where you belong, and experiencing the unexpected joy that comes when a very large university begins to feel a little more like home.