Leilani Faurrieta Cortez

Pronouns: 

she/her/ella 

Major: 

Business Administration

Hometown: 

Santa Rosa, CA

What are your campus involvements? 

Associated Students Business Office administrator and accounting assistant, volunteer with Associated Students Productions (ASP), and Sigma Pi Alpha Sorority, Inc.

What is your favorite memory or experience at SSU? 

My favorite experience at SSU has been being able to do homework by The Lakes. I love the nature that surrounds SSU, especially on a sunny day when I can go outside and find a nice grassy spot to do school work and look at ducks and turtles.

What has been the most challenging part of your college experience and what did you learn from it? 

The most challenging part of my college experience was figuring out what I wanted to major in. There are a lot of majors to choose from, and I had no idea what I wanted to study. I decided to declare my major as Electrical Engineering when I transferred here, and realized that it was not for me. Deciding to switch to Business Administration was difficult because I was afraid the switch would push my graduation back. I learned that it is okay for things, like graduation, to come a little later as long as what I am doing has a positive impact on me.

What brought you to SSU, and what motivates you to stay? 

My first year was at Sacramento State, and I decided to transfer to SSU to be closer to my home and community. My motivation to stay at SSU and finish my degree here are the friendships and the support I have received from professors and faculty.

Who at SSU has influenced you and/or made an impact on your journey here? 

My good friend Aneliya has made a great impact on me here at SSU. She has been a great friend since my first semester here. She continues to be a great friend and support system. Being a commuter and transfer student made it difficult to adjust to being involved on campus, and she has motivated me to become involved with the campus community.