Kyanna Thurston

Hey! My name is Kyanna Thurston (she/her/hers) and I’m a 3rd year at SSU. I’m a proud black, queer, low income, first generation college student.

What’s up! My name is Kyanna Thurston (she/her/hers) and I’m a third-year at SSU. I’m a proud black, queer, low income, first generation college student from a single parent household in Sacramento. I am currently pursuing a degree in business accounting and planning on going to grad school to pursue a degree in higher education advising.

I am currently a peer mentor for a group of 1st years and my job is to help their transition from high school to college go a little bit smoother. I have also been really involved with the Educational Opportunity Program (EOP). I worked at the front desk in the office for three semesters, went to different leadership conferences and I had the opportunity to go to Japan with EOP. I had the opportunity to attend the EOP 50th Anniversary Conference in Long Beach, CA. It was beyond amazing. I met so many inspiring people and was able to make stronger connections with the other SSU students. I found my home at SSU by being apart of EOP as well as the peer mentor community.

When I first got to SSU my first year, I wanted nothing to do with Sonoma. I was looking into transferring (which we all have done). I was having family trouble back home and I felt like I didn’t belong on this campus. I look around everyday and seen no one like me. This isn’t how it was back home. I struggled with leaving my dorm to do anything other than go to class or go eat. But then I pushed myself to get involved and actually meet new people. When I was put into my position as peer mentor at the beginning of my 2nd year I had no idea what to expect. I didn’t realize how much really went into that position. All I knew was how much my mentors had helped me in the past and how much I wanted to do the same for other students.

I am now in my second year in the program and I am still learning so much every day. I know exactly how it feels to be the 1st in college and not feeling like you are in the right place. I want to be able to give my students the resources and support to not only succeed academically but also grow on a personal and emotional level. I had my ups and downs, as we all do, but I have learned and grown so much and I am so grateful. My experience at SSU has not been the best, but I will make the best out of it and I will take advantage of every opportunity to become a better me.