Varun Thakur
Meet Varun
Pronouns: He/Him
Alum Degree: Communications and Media Studies
Position: Chief of Operations at Sonoma Specialty Hospital
Hometown: Punjab, India
What were your campus involvements?
International Club, SSU Student Involvement, Primitivo, KSUN Radio
What is one piece of advice you’d give your college self today?
I would advise my college self to accept ambiguity and to not worry too much about not knowing everything. It's acceptable to not have a meticulous plan for the future because the most memorable events occasionally arise from chance encounters.
What does life look like now after graduating from SSU?
Life can be a meaningful and fulfilling journey after graduating from SSU and making the move from front desk jobs at resorts to Chief of Operations at a hospital. It's been a fun ride as of now. The Chief of Operations position at a hospital has been a major career advancement, while working in the front office of resorts gave essential experience in customer service and organization. I guess I have evolved and have become a much calmer individual after my job at the resort and it helped me transition into my operations role very well.
What brought you to SSU, and what motivates you to stay involved?
I still remember when I was in India finishing high school, I dreamt of doing my higher education in California, and when I explored my options Sonoma State was actually one of my initial choices out of four other CSU's. I wanted to stay away from big cities and also somewhere quiet and closer to nature. Sonoma State felt like a home away from home. I made connections of a lifetime and had an amazing support system throughout my education. My professors, my counselor, and all the students from various diversities taught me life lessons that I will carry for the rest of my life. I always felt a sense of belonging and feel like a part of me will always stay connected to SSU no matter what. I was able to express my talents and share my culture with other students when I got to perform at the Seawolves Got Talent 2021 which won the hearts of the judges and the audience.
Who at SSU has influenced you and/or made a difference in your journey?
I will be biased if I name one individual who influenced my journey. There have been multiple individuals which includes my professors, my fellow classmates, and my counselor who have had my back all along my journey during my ups and downs and have supported me all along. During my time here I had missed my family back home on multiple occasions and gotten sad but the family I have at SSU stepped up and brought a smile on my face every single time.