Finding Your Place at the USU This Fall 

By Mari-Al Igama 

As new and returning students settle into another semester at California State University, Northridge, finding a place of belonging on campus means more than learning where classes are. Across the University Student Union (USU), Matadors are finding ways to recharge, meet new people and discover communities that make campus feel more like home. 

Across the USU, connection takes many forms. It might look like slowing down and making time for yourself, meeting someone new at a poolside gathering or finding people who understand your experiences. 

At the Veterans Resource Center, Mindful Mondays gives students dedicated time at the start of the week to focus on their well-being. The community wellness workshop introduces simple strategies for managing the demands of everyday life and approaching the week with a grounded, clear mind. 

For Veterans Resource Center Student Assistant Ryan Green, who attended a recent Mindful Mondays workshop, wellness is also tied to feeling at ease in a space and with the people around him. 

“If I could put down one word, I would say just comfort,” Green said. “Being in an environment that’s comfortable, being around people who I’m comfortable speaking with.” 

Starting a new semester often means adjusting to new classes, schedules and responsibilities. For those moving from one commitment to the next, finding balance also means making time for themselves. 

At the Oasis Wellness Center, sleep is an important part of the conversation around student well-being. Oasis Wellness Center Manager Condor said sleep is often deprioritized during the semester despite its role in focus, memory, decision-making and physical health. Developing consistent sleep habits and practicing good sleep hygiene, he said, supports academic performance and overall well-being. 

“In many ways, sleep is the unsung hero of self-care because it supports nearly every aspect of a student’s ability to thrive,” Condor said. 

Wellness also comes down to remembering the small things during a busy day. Oasis Supervisor Abigayle Brown said she uses planners and reminders on her phone to keep track of basic needs, including drinking water and eating a snack, while balancing her responsibilities. 

Taking care of yourself is one part of finding your place on campus. Belonging also comes from discovering communities where people feel comfortable showing up as themselves. 

For Pride Center Supervisor Chaunti Hatchett, community is reciprocal. It means receiving support from others while offering that same support in return.  

That idea carries into PRIDEComing, a Pride Center event where LGBTQIA2S+ students and allies can meet one another, celebrate their identities and learn more about the center through performances, lip-sync battles, games, queer resources and workshops. 

“For PRIDEComing, I want this to be a moment where they can see what a full life as a community member looks like, which is being helped and helping others,” Hatchett said. 

For Pride Center Student Social Media Assistant Danny Magaña, that sense of belonging shows up in small moments. It might be reflected in what people wear, the compliments they exchange or the way they interact with one another. 

“Every celebration I go to, I always wear pink,” Magaña said. “Seeing people walk by and compliment each other … it really brings in a sense of community.” 

Shared identity isn’t the only thing that brings Matadors together. 

At the Student Recreation Center (SRC), events such as Poolside DJ create another setting for people to cross paths outside the classroom. During the event, attendees spend time around the pool, listen to music and socialize with friends and other Matadors between classes. 

Aquatics Manager Ryan Hairapetian said the SRC’s role extends beyond providing a place to exercise. 

“We’re not a gym. We’re not just a gym,” Hairapetian said. “We try to go beyond that and develop programs, events and services that help young adults develop self-efficacy.” 

Hairapetian said he has seen people become more comfortable engaging with others over time. Recreation creates another meeting point for those whose paths might not otherwise cross. 

Aquatics Supervisor Marty Chavez said Poolside DJ brings together people from different majors who might otherwise remain within their own academic circles. For incoming Matadors in particular, the event offers another setting to meet people beyond the classroom. 

“It provides that space for those connections to happen,” Chavez said. 

For some, finding community means entering a space where they do not have to explain every part of their experience before asking for support. 

At the DREAM Center, familiarity with the experiences of undocumented, DACA-mented and mixed-status students helps reduce some of the burden of explaining those experiences before seeking support. 

“We already come with that knowledge and background,” DREAM Center Manager Irvin Rendon said. “So, it’s easier for them to talk to us without feeling like they won’t be understood.” 

From making time for yourself to finding people who understand your experiences, belonging across the USU does not look the same for everyone. It shows up in moments of rest, a compliment exchanged at a Pride Center celebration or a conversation with someone outside your usual circle beside the SRC pool. 

For Green, finding that sense of belonging comes back to something simple: being in a place where you feel comfortable.