Upon starting my journey at the University of Utah, I had two goals. One: Keep my head down. Two: Get through college as quickly as possible. As a first-generation student, I didn’t know what college was like, or what I was meant to do. I only knew that I was paying for my tuition with no scholarships or financial aid and therefore was only interested in getting my diploma. The moment I found myself sitting in freshman orientation, nervous about this new chapter of my life, and surrounded by more students than I could comprehend, I had made up my mind. I did not want to be anything more than a student at the U.

My attitude wasn’t always so bitter. In fact, during high school, I was intensely involved in extracurriculars and community service; I loved the community surrounding my school and hometown and I wanted to make it better. I felt like I knew the people in my community and that they knew me. Going from a high school with around 2,500 students to a massive university with over 35,000 students had completely derailed the sense of community that was so important to me. I felt like the collective identity of my high school had been lost to this huge corporate entity. Because of this, I had no intention to get involved at the U outside of my academics.

My freshman year in the Department of Theatre (DoT) began to challenge my disinterest in the U. Being in the Actor Training Program (ATP), a conservatory-style program full of personable artists, made it easy to actually care. I quickly found myself becoming more and more involved in social life at the U. The professors in the ATP—and the College of Fine Arts (CFA) as a whole—held so much passion both for their disciplines and their students. This made it impossible not to care about them or what they were teaching. I found my commitment to involvement rapidly increasing. If the CFA cared enough to invest so much in every student, regardless of whether or not they were pursuing a BFA, I could spare a little bit of time and energy too.

In my sophomore year, the head of the ATP reached out to me and asked if I wanted to be a member of the Student Advisory Committee. My freshman year had shown me how incredible my program was, and to be offered the opportunity to experience the inner workings of the college was so exciting that I couldn’t say no—much to the dismay of my freshman self. I immediately found myself thrown head-first into the college, learning about programs, departments, clubs, projects, and other opportunities within the CFA.

There were so many parts of the CFA that I had no idea even existed, and they were all focused on student livelihood and prosperity. I was awe-inspired to witness tons of people from all avenues of life working so hard to help improve one culture. It brought me to a realization: the University of Utah is truly a community. I found that I had rediscovered the same culture I had loved being part of in high school, though this time on a much larger scale.

You can get a degree anywhere. But the CFA offers more than a degree; they cultivate a community for all students, fully embracing their passions, voices, and ideas with open arms. As an actor and artist, my favorite resource that the CFA offers all students is the ArtsPass. Using your UCard, you can get free or heavily discounted access to performances, exhibitions, concerts, museums, and other arts-related events on the U of U campus. I use the ArtsPass frequently to see discounted shows at Pioneer Theatre Company and to support my fellow actors in U of U shows for free! I’ve also used it for free admission to the Utah Museum of Fine Arts, which gives me even more fuel for my artistry. Being exposed to and involved with art changes communities! It results in greater social tolerance, critical thinking skills, and a higher likelihood of searching out art and culture in the future. The CFA truly recognizes how important art is to everyone, especially students. The college has a Fine Arts Fund which is committed to helping students fund their artistic endeavors, bringing new art and opportunities to campus.

The College of Fine Arts, Department of Theatre, and Actor Training Program have fostered a culture that can only be described in one word: home. I’ve found a home where I am surrounded by kind-hearted people who have passionate ideas and ambitious goals. It’s a home for people who strive to better themselves and each other, fostering creativity and collaboration every step of the way. This has molded me into a better artist and a better person. In preparing me for a professional career in the arts (and providing me with life-long friendships and connections), the CFA has taught me how important passion is. I’ve realized that, while it can feel embarrassing to care about something, finding passion for your community takes college to the next level. Once I started caring, I was no longer just receiving an education; I’ve received an unwavering community that’ll last long past graduation.

Now that I’m entering my junior year at the U, I’ve been re-evaluating my collegiate career thus far.  When I was first sitting in that orientation room, I wanted to get in and out of college as fast as possible. That’s completely changed. Now, I strive to be a helpful part of the University of Utah community in any way I can. I want to bring the sense of belonging that the CFA provided me to other students. Going from an angsty, pessimistic U student to an enthralled CFA fan isn’t something I expected from my college career, but I’m so happy it happened.

It can take time to find your passions at the U, and even longer to take the initiative to get involved with them. But if anything has elevated my U of U journey from a BFA to a life-changing educational experience, it’s been getting involved with the U, its resources, and the student support it offers. The University of Utah is more than a university; it’s an opportunity-minded community for everyone who wants to be involved.