​SCC Feels Like Home to English and Spanish Major

First-year student and dual English and Spanish major, Joseph Lanning, is involved in clubs and activities all over campus. To him, SCC is a second home to go to during the week. But, SCC felt foreign before it felt like home.

While in high school, Lanning made it a point to be friendly with everyone on campus, “It took me an extra five minutes to walk to class,” he said, “Because I would say hi to everyone along the way to classes.” The friendliness that he exuded in the hall was what made his high school feel like home to him. Then, he and his family moved from Temecula to Anaheim Hills after high school, a foreign place that wasn’t like his old home.

He needed to settle in and meet some new people. In his first semester he met a few other students in study groups for classes, but felt like he was not really a part of the community, yet. In his second semester he decided to join Associated Student Government (ASG) and a few other clubs on campus which changed his outlook on his new community at SCC.

After a month into the semester, Lanning was walking to an ASG meeting and along the way he said hi to five different people he knew. After the third person he knew that SCC was where he needed to be. He said,

“That’s when I knew that I can make this place my home.” He felt the sense of belonging he experienced in high school at SCC and it changed his outlook on moving to a new place.

To new students at SCC, Lanning’s advice is to get involved. Participate in various clubs, events, and/or activities on campus. “Doing so is an excellent way for incoming students to meet others with similar interests; encounter new concepts and ideas; and begin to truly feel at home here on campus,” said Lanning, “The more students get involved here at SCC, the more our campus community will thrive.”