Hello there. My name is David Scupien and I am currently a second-year Theatre Arts major. My hometown is Oceanside, California and I have been living there my entire life. My favorite spot on campus is the Activity Center in the University Student Union (USU) building because it is such an amazing place to reward yourself when you finish your last class for the day, just completed an exam, or finished your last homework assignment. My advice to all students is to go to office hours as much as you can when you have any questions related to your coursework because all of our professors are willing to help you, want you to succeed, and achieve your desired career. As a theatre major, my dream career is to be a stage technician for Disneyland. My best memory at CSUSM was playing Family Feud at USU Live with my GEL classmates because we got free food and we had a great time bonding with each other. 

Hi! My name is Tyler Schweer and I am a first year Criminal Justice major. I am from San Diego but now live here on campus. I love playing sports, video games, watching tv, and hanging out with friends. My goal is to attend law school and become a lawyer so that I can help others who may have been hurt or injured. My favorite memory so far at San Marcos Is going to the quad block party with all my friends that I had met. My favorite show is suits and is one of the many reasons I found law as a career path.

Hello! My name is Runda Balegh, I am currently a third year, double majoring in Communications and Criminology/ Criminal Justice Studies. I currently live in San Marcos, around 8 minutes away from Campus. I love to play volleyball whenever I get the chance to. My favorite spot on campus would be in the library rooftop on the 5th floor. The view is amazing with the shade and wind coming in. My best advice to students is don't be afraid to change your mind based on your major and to experiment new things! My dream job is to become a lawyer and profiler. My best memory at CSUSM is coming on campus and seeing familiar faces I didn't expect to see while also meeting new people. My favorite book right now would be Red Queen or Ash Princess. 

Hi everyone, My name is Mateo and I am a first year majoring in psychology. I am from Long Beach but now I live here at school! I love exploring new places, hanging out with friends, playing games and reading manga. So far my favorite spot on campus would have to be palm court because of how peaceful it is and the view you get from the top benches. One piece of advice I would give to students is to not procrastinate your work, even if its due 2 weeks from now get it done so you can have more free time. My dream job is to become a therapist, I've always enjoyed helping people going through tough times and seeing them get back up. So far I don't have a best memory but I plan on making those types of memories very soon. Lastly, my favorite food would have to be poke bowls.

Hello! My name is Isabella Contreras and I'm from Palmdale California. I am a first year student and I am majoring in Biological Sciences. I am very friendly, outgoing, and a bubbly person. I love to talk and meet new people. After college I am hoping to become a doctor of some sort because I love to help others. My favorite spot on campus is the Rec center because there is so many things to do. So far my best memory at CSUSM was going to the freshman welcome week. There were so many activities like karaoke, rock climbing, jumpers, face painting and much more. My favorite food is sushi and my mom's ceviche. My advice for students considering college is don't procrastinate and be yourself!

Hi! My name is Kai Rivas and I am senior! I am a Social Science major which means I am studying three different fields. My primary field of study is psychology, and my secondary fields are history and women's gender and sexuality studies. Before coming to Cal State San Marcos, I attended MiraCosta community college! I received my Associate in Arts degree in May of 2023. My dream job is to be a high school teacher! I would love to teach either psychology or history. I was born and raised in Carlsbad. I love to play volleyball in my spare time and go to the gym! My favorite spot on campus is the Women's Gender and Equity center, it is a great place for me to do my homework and eat lunch.  My best memory at CSUSM is when I went to Cougar Blue Day!  My advice to students would be to go all the events on campus! It helps make connections with people. 

Hi! My name is Alex Shilling, and I am a second-year Psychology major. I am from a small town in Idaho called Almo, but I am currently off-campus in San Marcos. I like participating in volleyball intramurals and snowboard trips done by campus recreation. I enjoy being outside, hiking, camping, slacklining, and other outdoor activities. I am also very active and enjoy going to the gym and running outside. My favorite spot on campus is the library's fourth floor by the windows. My advice to my fellow students is to write everything down so that you don't forget any assignments or tasks that you have to do. My dream job is to be a licensed therapist and to do it online to allow me to travel while I am working. My best memory at CSUSM so far is Friendsgiving. It was a fun experience, and I can't wait to do it again this year. My favorite something is the show called New Girl. 

Hi ! My name is Tristan Hicana and I am a third year psychology major at CSUSM originally I am from San Diego .  I've been coming to CSUSM since I was a freshman, so I know the campus quite well.  My favorite spot on campus is Palm court because it is peaceful and a good place to destress from classes. It is also a good spot to hangout with your friends and listen to music. My advice to new students would be to manage your time well and be involved with the campus whether that is going to events held by the school or joining a club. Also ask for help from your professors if you are struggling because if you don't then it will be hard to understand that class. My dream job would be a high school guidance counselor because education is important to me and being a teen in high school can be tough that some highschoolers stray away from their education I want to help them and show them that education is valuable and also help them with whatever they are struggling with in life . My favorite memory at CSUSM is going to the school's music festival called festival 78. I saw Ross Lynch and his brothers band up in the front with my friend and we had so much fun. My favorite type of food is Filipino food like lumpia, adobo, sisig.  

Hello! My name is Gianna Bilderain and I am a second year Business Management major here at San Marcos. I am from Twentynine Palms which is near Palm Springs. I rent an apartment right down the road from campus called Barham Villas. I enjoy going to the beach with my friends and snowboarding during the winter. I am involved with Greek life and so far, all my best memories have come from events with my sisters. My favorite spot-on campus is the tables on the balcony outside the library overlooking the baseball and softball fields, it is a peaceful place to do homework. 

Hello! My name is Caitlin Miranda and I am a first-year Social Science Major with a primary in Communications and subfields in Psychology and Political Science. I live here on campus at the University Village Apartments. My favorite spot on campus is a patio behind the Social & Behavioral Science Building where I spend time studying. I enjoy dancing and reading and I love San Diego beaches. My favorite CSUSM memory would be orientation where I met my two best friends and was able to socialize and meet other first years that were in my major.  CSUSM has many fun events and resources that help better our students' lives and experiences and my advice would be to use and join in on all campus offers. Cal State San Marcos was my first choice away from my hometown La Verne, CA and I could not have chosen a better second home. 

Hello, my name is Kimberly Aguirre! I am majoring in Criminology and Justice Studies as well as minoring in Psychology. I am a first year here at Cal State San Marcos. I am from El Centro, CA which is super east of San Diego. My dream career in life is to be a Criminal psychologist which requires a lot of schooling. My favorite sport is baseball because I used to play until COVID-19 started. I have two younger brothers who are identical twins. I would say that my favorite spot on campus is the seating outside the USU. I tend to not do work in my dorms so being anywhere on campus is helpful. Some advice I would give to students is to find a method that works for them (Studying wise). My best memory at CSUSM is meeting my roommates. I think my roommates are my favorite people besides my friends that go elsewhere. My favorite movie is Sinister, and my favorite show is Criminal Minds. 

Hi! My name is Sahand Shahoy and I am currently a second-year Criminology and Justice Studies major. I was born in Erbil, Iraq but moved to the US at the age of 13. I spend most of my days either hanging out with friends or studying for my classwork. I plan to become an immigration lawyer once I am done with my bachelor's. I am fluent in both Kurdish and English and plan to better my Arabic throughout my time here at Cal State San Marcos. I spend most of my days in the Sociology building either studying with friends or just hanging out, so I would count that as my favorite spot. My advice for everyone is to just take it easy and better your time management skills! My best memory would be having a potluck with friends, wearing Kurdish clothing, eating great food, and just laughing at whatever jokes we could think of. If I have to choose a favorite food it would be Shawarma, which might be a basic choice for many, but it has to be my go-to choice.

Hi everyone!

My name is Alysia Bell and I am a third year Kinesiology student with an emphasis on Movement Anatomy to become a radiology tech. Currently, I am an Orientation volunteer and Campus tour ambassador.  I am originally from Libertyville Illinois, but now live in Chula Vista. I am an avid reader and writer, often submitting my work to online writing contests and hope to one day publish a book. I am a former athlete (high school + all stars cheer, swim, and  gymnastics) and love all things nature, true crime, and music. My favorite spot on campus is the greenhouse sitting area in the California Nature Garden near the library and USU. My advice to incoming and current students is to get involved with campus activities and find your community. 

1. First and Last Name:  Jayla Rogers

2. Major: I am a Kinesiology major.

3. Academic Year: Freshman

4. Four to Six sentences to say hi and introduce yourself: 

Hello! My name is Jayla Rogers, and I love my campus! I love the beach, going shopping, spending time with friends, and working out. I am also involved in Greek Life here at CSUSM as a Gamma Phi Beta, and I live on campus at the UVA, as I am originally from Bakersfield, CA. I enjoy getting involved on campus, and I'm majoring in Kinesiology, but plan to pursue nursing school in the future so that I can become a NICU nurse. 

5. Favorite Spot on Campus: Campus Coffee cart

6. Advice to Students: Have fun! College only lasts a few years so get involved while you can!

7. Dream Job: NICU nurse

8. Best Memory at CSUSM: Going to the beach with my roommates

9. Hometown: Bakersfield, CA

10. Favorite Something (i.e. show, movie, food, book, your choice, etc.): My favorite food is the Trader Joe's Chicken soup dumplings. 

Hi! My name is Malia Vaicaro and I am a first year Kinesiology major. Originally I am from Tustin located in Orange County.one day I hope to be a nurse! If I had to choose what kind of nurse the dream would to become an operation room nurse! Even though I haven't been here for long I think the most memorable memory I had was when I met my bestfriend for the first time at the crosswalk walking back to the dorm on the first day of school then later than same night we got stuck in the elevator together. I know it sounds crazy that was my favorite memory so far but I have never laughed so hard in my life. We spent the hour in a half on the fifth floor singing our voices away so loud that the lobby was having a personal radio!!! If I had to give advice to students it would be that no matter what year you are or what your going through try your best to focus on keeping an open mind. There's thousands of people here to meet and I promise eventually you will find your clique or best friend even. There's so many personalities surrounding the school that it's impossible to not find your people!

 Assignments

Hi my name is Adriana Green, I am a first year business major with a strong interest in marketing and entrepreneurship. I am from the Rancho Bernardo area and have always lived in San Diego. I love sitting next to the Campus Coffee cart under the trees during my breaks in between classes to unwind, read a book and get ahead in my homework. I really enjoyed touring CSUSM in high school and I am very excited to be a part of the student body here on campus! After graduating, I plan on working on the marketing team of Google or Apple and maybe moving out of San Diego for a while. I love traveling, taking road trips, going to the beach, hiking venturing into bookstores, reading in nature, and animals. 

1. First and Last Name: Keely Berner

2. Major: Biotechnology with a minor in biology

3. Academic Year: Third

4. Four to Six sentences to say hi and introduce yourself: 

​Hi Y'all! My name is Keely Berner and I am a biotechnology major with a biology minor.  I was born and raised in San Diego, and I have loved living in SoCal. Outside of classes, I love spending time with my family and my two puppies.  I love to travel and explore different cultures. Hope to see y'all soon. 

6. Advice to Students: Find a fun group of people in each of your classes and form study groups with them. 

7. Dream Job: Regulatory Affairs in Biotechnology or Quality Assurance/Control

9. Hometown: San Diego, CA

10. Favorite Something (i.e. show, movie, food, book, your choice, etc.): Formula 1, dogs, and traveling. 

1. First and Last Name: Ian Campbell

2. Major: Software Engineering 

3. Academic Year: Sophomore 

4. Four to Six sentences to say hi and introduce yourself: Hi, my name is Ian Campbell, I am a second year at Cal State San Marcos and a software engineering major. I hope to take my skills with me and do something to impact the world.

5. Favorite Spot on Campus: Kellog Library 

6. Advice to Students: Make sure you have all your work done on time so you don't have to stress about it last minute 

7. Dream Job: As of now, something in the world of film

8. Best Memory at CSUSM: Hanging out with friends at the activity center

9. Hometown: Chicago, IL

10. Favorite Something (i.e. show, movie, food, book, your choice, etc.): Favorite show is Samurai Champloo. Favorite season is winter. Favorite sport is track.

1. First and Last Name: Noah Rivas

2. Major: Computer Science

3. Academic Year: 2027

4. Four to Six sentences to say hi and introduce yourself: Hi! My name is Noah. I am 19 years old, and I am a first-year computer science major at CSUSM. I really enjoy watching sports with my family 

5. Favorite Spot on Campus: Library

6. Advice to Students: GO TO CLASS!! Don't take days off because you don't feel like it or you think there is nothing to do. You are paying for this education so put your money to use. And even if it is a light day still go to class and understand whatever the topic you are learning about even better.

7. Dream Job: My dream job is to be a Firefighter.

8. Best Memory at CSUSM: My best memory at CSUSM was my first club soccer game win, when we beat UCSD.

9. Hometown: Murrieta, CA

10. Favorite Something (i.e. show, movie, food, book, your choice, etc.): My favorite movie is American sniper. My favorite soccer team is Liverpool. My favorite Tennis player is Carlos Alcaraz. My favorite music artist are Bad Bunny/ $uicideboy$. My favorite MMA fighter is Nate Diaz.

Hello everyone! My name is Haley Welch and I am a Reading and Writing major here at Cal State San Marcos. I am in my Junior year of college, but I have two Senior years to enjoy! Some things about me is that I love to read. I will always have my nose in a book at all times if I'm not busy doing something else, specifically romance books. I also love animals, I have had dogs my whole life growing up. I also love music, music has been my grounding technique since I was little, I mainly listen to EDM music and I love going to festivals! I also enjoy watching anime, I am a huge nerd and love all kinds of anime and have aspirations to go to Comic Con. My favorite spot on campus would have to be in the library, there are these chairs that have a beautiful view of the recreational fields, along with being secluded and in a little cubicle. My advice to incoming students would be to use the resources available to you. This campus has a lot to offer and always take advantage of it. My dream job is to be a high school teacher. I want to help students find their paths in life and figure out what is next through writing and reading! So far my best memory at CSUSM is going to the harvest fest with a friend of mine and we had a blast decorating cookies and going through the haunted maze. I am originally from San Diego California and my favorite book series is A Court of Thorns and Roses. It is a thrilling fantasy series that I thoroughly enjoyed. 

Hi everyone, welcome to CSUSM! My name is Matt Acosta, I am a 1st-generation upper-division transfer majoring in Computer Science. I am involved in the CSUSM ESports collegiate team on campus where we promote collegiate Esports on our campus and allow students to compete in their favorite games; Me specifically, I’m more involved with the FGC (Fighting-Game Community) branch. I live off-campus and I commute. Some advice I would give to new students is to utilize their resources the best they can as soon as possible.

Hello! My name is Karen Mendoza and I am a first-year Psychology and Film major. I am from the Coachella Valley, where the Coachella fest is held at, however I am currently living on-campus at the UVA. My favorite thing to do is Editing, which I have to thank my digital film teacher for showing me the skills and knowledge about Digital production. My favorite horror film of all time is "As Above so Below" along with my favorite franchise "Twilight". My favorite spot on campus is the grass area near the University hall going all the way to the  Art Building. It's a really calm and peaceful place . I hope to one day be a Psychiatrist at Loma Linda University, along with some kind of editing hobby. I advise students to not be afraid of trying new things, it could eventually lead you to greatness and new experiences that bring knowledge, experience and memories.  As of now, my favorite memory at CSUSM was seeing the view of the city of San Marcos for the first time on the 4th floor of the Academic Hall. It brought me chills, and it made me realize that I made the right decision to attend here, and also that this was the start of my adult life. 

Hello! My name is Rachel Zarate-Sanchez and I am a first-year Global Studies and Economics major. I am originally from Ontario, CA. but now live here on-campus at the Quad.  I love going to the beach, spending time with my friends, and listening to music. My dream job is to be a diplomat or an international lawyer. My favorite spot on campus would definitely be the 4th floor of the library as the view is amazing. My favorite memory here at CSUSM so far has been frequently going to the beach with my friends. My biggest advice to new students would be to stay organized and create a set schedule. It's often hard to balance school and social life in college and having a schedule helps a lot. My favorite book is Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen. 

Name: McEwen Baker

Major: Software Engineering

Bio: Hi, my name is McEwen. I'm a third year Software Engineering student looking to better my programming skills at CSUSM, while displaying campus pride as part of CSUSM Esports. 

Dream Job: My dream job is to work at a software company that betters and forwards our environment towards a cleaner earth. 

Hometown: Temecula, CA

Best memory at CSUSM: My best memory at CSUSM is anytime I get to hang out with friends or roommates on campus in between classes. 

Favorite Summer Activity: My favorite summer activity is seeing live music with friends. 

Favorite Spot on Campus: My favorite spot on campus is the outdoor patio on the Kellogg Library.

Advice:  Join a club on campus and get involved with your community!

Hello, my name is Jordan Silva and I am an international student from South Africa, Mozambique, and Portugal! I am a senior and I am doing a Business major and a Global Studies minor. I have been a Resident Advisor at the UVA and the QUAD and I also work for the Office of Global Education so feel free to ask me any questions about these aspects of our campus. As a volunteer for Outdoor Adventures I have some great insights about the trips we have to offer! One of my favorite spots on campus is the library. It's a great place to use some fancy technology, have a quiet area to study, or just simply relax between classes. For new students, I would highly recommend going on Outdoor Adventure trips, it's a great way to see more of our beautiful state. I would love to work for an NGO in the future. One of my favorite movies is Interstellar and I love dancing and going out. I hope to see you soon!

Hello! My name is Yarminz and I am a Transfer Psychology major focusing on Child Development. I hope to one day become a child psychologist. I am from here in San Diego, so it's nice that this campus is not too far. My favorite spot on Campus is the library, you'll always find me hiding away in a corner working on my studies or taking a reading break. What I love to do most is to read a good book and travel around with friends and family.

Hi Cougars! My name is Emma Farias, I am a sophomore and a Political Science major.  After I graduate from CSUSM I plan to go to law school and become a corporate attorney. I'm a representative of the College of Humanities, Arts, Behavioral and Social Sciences in ASI, and my role there is to empower and advocate for students. I'm from the Imperial Valley and I enjoy going to the gym, dancing, running, and going to the beach. My favorite spot on campus is Gonzalez Grove because the trees and flowers are so pretty in the fall. My favorite memory on campus would have to be when my best friend and I laid on the grass of Gonzalez Grove and listened to music. 

Hi everyone! My name is Briana Lopez and I am a first year Biology major. I am originally from Fontana and now live in the Quad for school. I do love the fact that I am so close to the campus so when there are events it makes it easy to get involved.  I love to get my nails done, go shopping, workout, and go on adventures. My favorite spot on campus would be the pool at the quad. Advice I would give is to make a schedule and organize your days as it will help you follow a rhythm and stay focused. My dream is to become something in the surgery field or in dentistry. So far my best memory at CSUSM would be when my roommates and I went out to get ice cream together. My favorite show has been pretty little lairs, I can watch the show on repeat without getting bored or tired of it.

Hi! My name is Maddie Rogers and I am a first year Speech Language Pathology major. My dream job  is to be a Speech Therapist. I am orignally from the Rancho Cucamonga area but I am now living on campus in the North Commons. I love going to the beach, spending time with friends, and reading. So far, my favorite CSUSM memory was move in day because there were so many amazing people to meet. My favorite shoes are vans and converse! My favorite spot on campus is my dorm room!

Hello! I'm Val and I am currently a first year Biochemistry major. I've had a passion for STEM my whole life but ultimately landed on biochem due to my interest in how the human body functions down to a chemical level. I hope to someday work in immunology research or forensic analysis with this degree. When I'm not swamped with homework, you can usually find me binge watching horror movies with my 3-legged cat (and biggest supporter) Vinny.  I look forward to meeting you :) 

Hello everyone! My name is Ashlyn Brantley, and I am a double major in Geography and History. I am from Riverside CA, but now live in the UVA on campus housing. I love traveling so I often travel through the Study Abroad Programs offered through CSUSM on my breaks. Getting involved in the campus and off campus related activities are always the highlights of my college experience. My favorite experience here is being involved in the CSUSM community and creating these friend groups filled with new life long memories. 

Hi! My name is Leyla and I’m a first-year History for Single-Subject Teaching Major. Im a First-generation student and was raised in Los Angeles but am currently living on-campus in The Quad here at San Marcos! I love listening to music and play guitar, piano, and also love to spend time with my brothers. My favorite artists are Arctic Monkeys, Kendrick Lamar, Mac Miller, and Amy Winehouse. In the future would love to become a High School History/Government teacher and work my way up to be a History Professor.  My favorite spot on campus is outside on the second floor at the USU where I love to study and listen to music. What I love to do here at CSUSM is spend time with my friends, especially grabbing food together and studying at the USU!

Hi everyone! My name is Libna, and I am from Orange County. I am a first-year liberal studies major. In the future, I hope to be an elementary school teacher and then become a high school counselor. I currently live on campus, which I enjoy because it has taught me many things and it has improved my social skills. In my free time, I enjoy hanging out with friends and going to the pool at night. I also like to binge-watch true crime videos. My favorite spot on campus would have to be the 4th floor of the library because the views are so peaceful and I can concentrate and actually get my work done. My advice to students would be to not be afraid to put themselves out there and get involved as much as possible. One of my favorite memories while being at CSUSM is when I attended one of the Latinx events. There was a great and positive environment all around and we got to enjoy free food!

Hi! My name is Johanna and I am a first year Social Sciences-Poli Sci major. I am from a small city about 15-20 minutes from Los Angeles, called Pico Rivera, many may know it for its sport arena dances or for the name "Picolandia", but currently I live on-campus at The Quad. My dream job is to become an immigration lawyer or join the California Border Patrol, CBP. My favorite spot on campus would have to be the library study rooms because its quiet and its a place that I can do my work more efficiently. My biggest advice to students would be to be yourself and don't be scared to try new things. My best CSUSM memory would have to be getting lost around campus but finding new ways to get to class. One of my favorite things to do would be driving down to Tijuana with my mom or sisters to go visit my uncle and cousins and just going out to explore with them. 

Hi! My name is Bella Murken and I am a first-year Literature & Writing major. I'm from San Diego but I currently live on-campus at the Quad. My plan is to get a bachelor's degree in Literature & Writing and a teaching credential here at CSUSM so that I can become an elementary school teacher. My favorite spot on campus is the library because I always work much better there rather than my dorm. That would be my biggest advice to new students because it helps you be much more motivated to get things done. My dream job would be a third grade teacher. I love to get involved in all the on-campus activities with my roommates because I always end up having so much fun and making great memories.

Hi everyone! My name is Emily Molina and I am a second year Literature and Writing Studies major. I am originally from the high desert, but I now live in San Marcos and couldn't have made a better decision.  I love being on campus even if I'm just doing homework at the library, or hanging out with friends at my dorm. I am involved with Greek life where I have met some of the best people, our weekly chapter meetings are some of my favorite CSUSM memories. I advise students to get involved on campus with people who will enhance your time here at CSUSM and uplift you. In my free time, I love cafe hopping and reading. 

Hi, My name is Arian, and I'm a first-year software engineering student. I'm from Iran, and I arrived in the US for the first time in September. I enjoy playing and watching soccer, and Manchester United is my favorite team. Because I am really good at pool and the activity center has pool tables that we use to play with our buddies, it is my favorite location on campus. My ideal career would be to launch my own company and use my ideas to make everyone's lives easier. My favorite CSUSM memory is of my closest friend and I visiting the campus for the first time and being awestruck by its size.

Hi! My name is Jenna and I am a second year Criminology and Justice Studies major. I am originally from Los Angeles, but am now living in San Marcos. I love going to the beach, thrifting, and doing my nails. My dream job is to be a lawyer or legal assistant. My best memory as CSUSM is hanging out with my friends, roommates, and sorority sisters. My favorite shows are Euphoria and Outer Banks.