Marcus Bautista

Pronouns: 

He/Him

Major: 

Nursing

Hometown: 

Fairfield, CA

What are your campus involvements? 

Filipino American Association of Sonoma State University (FAASSU), Sonoma State Nursing Student Association (SSNSA)

What is your favorite memory or experience at SSU?

Being part of the FAASSU and going to the 2023 Friendship Games at CSU Fullerton was one of my favorite college memories as a Sonoma State student!

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

The hardest part of my college experience has been realizing that I can't do everything. As much fun as I’ve had being with the people that I love and exploring the hobbies that I enjoy, part of growing up is choosing what to keep and what to leave behind. Nursing as a major is one of the most fulfilling and noble things anyone could ever do with their life, but as you get older, life forces you to choose, and that's not always an easy choice. Choosing between nursing school, FAASSU, SSNSA, my mental health, and my hobbies has been one of the most difficult choices I've ever had to make. It taught me that you're just human, that you're not invincible, and that the thing you'll always cherish isn't money, good grades, or being the best, but rather time. Time with friends, time with family, time pushing yourself to be the best nurse you can be, time to make amends and say sorry, time to take care and love yourself, time to explore your farthest endeavors, and even time to learn about love. There's only 24 hours in a day, and not nearly enough time to do the things we want to do. So make the most out of it, and cherish, simply, time. 

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

SSU has one of the most prestigious nursing programs in the state, boasting a high National Council Licensure Examination (NCLEX) pass rate, a low teacher-to-student ratio, and a small tight-knit community that you can't get anywhere else. I love the closeness and relationships that you can form with the people on campus and bonding over the experiences you share due to the size of the school. Whether positive ones like singing and dancing in front of the entire school, or negative ones like trauma-bonding over giving patients the wrong medication in simulations and failing the skills exams, these close relationships are the reason that I stay. I hope to make thousands more memories in the future as I continue my journey here at SSU.

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

I can't give the credit to one single person, but rather a multitude of people who have made me who I am and pushed me to be the best Seawolf I could ever be. From my family who give me the inspiration every day to keep pushing forward through nursing school as tough as it can be; to my teachers, advisors, and mentors who believe in me and provide me the guidance I need to become the best nurse I can be; to my friends who are there to remind me to take a break and that I deserve to love myself; to my clubs who allow me to use my talents as an outlet to serve our Seawolf community and create fun, silly, everlasting memories; and lastly to all the people who have helped me on this journey, you are the people who have put this smile on my face and are the reason I keep going, the reason I keep learning, the reason I keep pushing in the face adversity, and the reason why I love SSU. Thank you!