The Homebase Podcast

Episode 001: Colleges and Universities as Third Spaces for Student Success

• Dr. Ricky Pope

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Ever pondered how young men of color navigate the maze of college life while embracing their unique identities? Join us as Nephi, Darren, and Michael, three inspiring students from San Diego State University, open up about their personal academic journeys, offering a powerful lens into the world of college success and identity. From Nephi's excitement as a first-year transfer student to Darren's reflective senior year insights, and Michael's challenges in switching majors and meeting GPA requirements, you’ll discover the empowering role of community support. Listen as they share how the Young Men of Color Alliance not only supports their academic pursuits but also amplifies their voices and experiences in a university setting.

But that's not all. We also explore the often-overlooked perspective of commuter students, uncovering the strategies they employ to balance the demands of work and study. Through heartfelt stories, we highlight the crucial role of creating a "third place," a space where students find comfort and community beyond home and work, with college often serving as this sanctuary. As we take you behind the scenes of our podcast production at the Digital Humanities Center, you'll gain insights into the technical joys of crafting a seamless audio experience. Embark on this journey with us and understand the art of building a supportive network for college success.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Welcome to the Home Base Podcast, the podcast where we explore the keys to college success and personal growth. I'm your host, dr Ricky Pope, and today we're deep diving into how students can survive and thrive in their college journey. For this first series, we're collaborating with the Young Men of Color Alliance, an organization committed to supporting young men of color through mentorship and community initiatives. Today's episode will focus on giving you the tools and strategies to take control of your academic experience. We will discuss the importance of developing agency and the power to make choices, shape your future and overcome obstacles. Welcome to the Homebase Podcast. This is a Homebase Podcast in collaboration with the YMOCA.

Michael:

What's YMOCA?

Dr. Ricky Pope:

The Young Men of Color Alliance at San Diego State University. So, Nephi, you're in your first year here.

Nephi:

I am in my first year. I'm a current transfer student, transferred from Santa Monica College, excited to be at San Diego State Cool.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Darren, what about you?

Darren:

Same I transferred last year and, yeah, I'm in my fourth year, final year.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Fourth and final year.

Darren:

Fourth and final year Graduating next semester. Surprising, really, and like I don't know I'm still trying to get used to how crisp my voice is Like the quality of this.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Yeah, no, listen, I've never heard my voice. Listen, our university is not playing around. We've got some good stuff here.

Darren:

You can always turn your headphones down. Sometimes people get too conscious, so you turn their headphones down, so then they don't focus on it. If you want, I can tune you down. Oh, that's fine, he's settling it in. So you're a computer science over there. Yeah, I'm studying computer science and hopefully going into that cyber security field after I graduate. Yeah, it's been a rewarding time time.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

So what I'm noticing is Nephi starting his journey at SDSU and then yours is coming to an end.

Nephi:

Yeah, yeah yeah, yeah, it's pretty interesting how things align. Then, michael, you are like in between, so far right.

Michael:

I think I'm kind of like going up and down the hill, up and down down the hill.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

What does that mean?

Michael:

Well, it's just like, since I'm switching from computer engineering into information systems, and then there's that entire process, especially like the 2.9 impaction GPA, of just trying to switch over into MIS, since it's under the Fowler's College of Business, and so in my third year. But then computer engineering sent me back by like one and one and a half like years just because of the math requirements. It's like, oh, college of engineering, we want you to do calculus your very first semester. I was like, nope, not doing that, yeah nah, I, I feel you.

Nephi:

That's why I'm an art major.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

So so what is it like being on this campus? And if you do identify that way as a man of color, what does that mean to you to be here?

Nephi:

Personally, I think it's a I don't want to say it's an honor, but I embrace that I am a man of color and I think that it's very empowering because I guess I what I want to do is help people of color, especially men. Uh, I grew up with a single mom so I never really had that father figure, so I want to help people understand that you're not out here by yourself and it's.

Nephi:

It's a community that I feel like people need to be aware that it's there Because, like joining this class, Young Men of Color has been giving me so many different opportunities, For example, coming here and testing things out and just being a part of a community, just in general.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

So what do you mean? When you woke up this morning, you didn't know you were going to be on a podcast. Not at all. Yeah, did not expect that.

Darren:

But hey, I mean, now that I know that this resource is here, yeah, right, might as well come utilize it, because, why not? Yeah, I appreciate you sharing that. That really resonates a lot with how I've come to understand being, um, a man of color. Um, I think one thing that I've really been sitting with, at least, is understanding my experience of it, um, being someone who's at least is understanding my experience of it, being someone who's lived most of the most of their lives overseas and then coming to america and then understanding, like, the cultural dynamic of being not just a man of color but a person of color, um, and then to be in a position where, like my academic journey is about to end and then trying trying to be a peer mentor to first years. It's really been like an enlightening experience of really understanding where I was in their shoes but then learning, like oh yeah like when I was in that position, this is what I got out of it and carrying it over in that sense.

Darren:

So, yeah, I really appreciate you sharing that, because now I look like that's the nice part of this is just really like every day I just learn a little bit more about myself through it too.

Michael:

yeah, um, for me, I guess it's an honor, but it's also a privilege, but it's also like a responsibility, especially like when we're talking about, like, oh, people of color, men of color specifically too. It's like, oh, we have this responsibility, like I was literally thinking about it this morning. It's, oh, great power comes with great responsibility. But then can it also be flipped the other way around? And so it's like we have great responsibility, but it also means that we have this great power, especially as like as men of means that we have this great power, especially as men of color, we're always associated. I was thinking about the fishbowl activity that we had, that one consortium, where one of them said it's like, oh, the mentality of men of color is there's no one else coming to help.

Michael:

And so then we're the ones who usually have to carry that weight on their shoulders, and so we always got the responsibility of that. It's expected of us to be the leaders. But what about everybody else? But I think just being a man of color on campus, at the end of the day it's very welcoming and it's very rewarding. As long as you try to give yourself out there and also, like, put your heart first, that's when it really, like, truly pays off.

Darren:

I think I really agree with that.

Darren:

Yeah, it's a good point, I agree, yeah I think, um, on that note, like one thing from class today is like being a man of color it's um. One thing I really picked up from Angel's presentation is that, like we're not usually in a space where it's, it's okay to be vulnerable and that's just as a man, and then to put that in our ethnic identities, it's heightened to like a different extent. But at the contrast of it like from my background in like social work, putting yourself in the most vulnerable spaces was is what's like most rewarding, not just for you but for the people around you, right.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Yeah, no, I really appreciate you sharing that and just kind of reflecting on Angel's presentation right, yeah, he was the first to go and he was really vulnerable and open about his story. And so what is that like, I guess, just in general, as men, with our differing ethnic backgrounds, right to be vulnerable. So not only do men, not only, you know, aren't typically feeling like they can be vulnerable, but then you have the added thing that we're all representing different backgrounds and groups. So what is that like being in this class and sitting.

Nephi:

With that I mean just being able to be vulnerable in a room full of men and having that safe space, I guess just empowers you as an individual, because you're not really given an opportunity outside or even in your own home, because sometimes you have to put all that weight on your shoulders being the man of the house so you have to take that responsibility and having that safe space again just gives you an opportunity to just let things go, which I feel my, uh, like a sense of therapy, because that's another thing I feel like not a lot of men of color do or embrace his therapy or just speaking out to people.

Nephi:

So I feel like that was cool of him for being the guinea pig in a sense, but at the same time taking that responsibility and initiative to really just put himself out there and just let his fellow classmates like give or get an insight of how he has been, like his, his upbringing, basically yeah, yeah, yeah, absolutely, um, I think, to tie it into what my experience has been, it's like, um, it's kind of seeing how college has become like a third place, um, in the sense that, like, we all, like you, shared, we all have like our responsibility outside, um, outside of this.

Darren:

But then when you are at school, um, it becomes a place where, like, everything else slows down and then you focus on one specific thing, which is what you're studying, right, um, but then with the freedom, or with that, comes the freedom of like reflecting, and then for me, it's kind of at least shown me, like what effect everything has had, or everything, um, everything I was experiencing, like how does that shape me? And really like contemplating, understanding what that dynamic is, is what that's given me. So, um, yeah, I think that is like like seeing how that little presentation is just like a little seed of that, and then to expound that over like the next three, four years or however long your academic journey is, it's, um, something that I'm, in hindsight, obviously is something I'm grateful for. So we're kind of like talking about just like vulnerability?

Michael:

Yeah, like what is it like to exist as a man? Because typically we're not supposed to be talking about things.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Be vulnerable, right, like being in your feelings, being in your emotions that's typically something folks are socialized not to do. But then here we are doing it. So what is that like for you? Right, like being your feelings, being your emotions. That's typically something folks are socialized not to do.

Michael:

And, but then here we are doing it.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

So what is that like for you?

Michael:

Michael, I think for me, I kind of like have nurtured it through the years, especially like someone who was like, who was drawn to poetry and like the senior year of my high school experience and so and like, one thing that's always been been a big part of me is poetry being either metaphorical and being reflective on my experiences and my feelings, especially with how poetry is, it's like, oh, we're putting our feelings into words, or just, in a certain way, that kind of works for us. And so I guess, being in the YMOCA space and all that and all the different opportunities I've been able to take, it becomes, it becomes nature to, um, like be vulnerable. Or sometimes it's kind of like you know how the code switching is. Sometimes you know it's like, oh, I'm in this space, okay, let me take off like my armor, let me take off this weight. It's's like, okay, I can be vulnerable here.

Michael:

But when I talk about how it becomes nature too is sometimes you become drawn to certain people or to a group of friends or this place where I'm able to have a safe space, and so that's kind of like how my friend group has become. It's like, oh, many of us are first-gen students, commuter students, or we have different parts or aspects of our intersectionality where it lines, where it's like, oh, yeah, I just took this test. Or it's like, oh, I've been having a bad day or I have car trouble, and it's like we have that safe space, or kind of like a communal agreement. It's like, okay, I'm here to support you, and so I think that vulnerability is built between each other.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Speaking I'm here to support you, and so I think that vulnerability is built between each other. Speaking of commuter students what is that Like? What do you mean? Like what's a commuter student?

Michael:

Commuter student. We don't have the money to afford dorming on campus.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Okay, so you got it. So you live in the local community and then you have to commute to campus. That's what?

Darren:

Yeah, somewhat local.

Michael:

I live in the local community and then you have to commute to campus. That's what? Yeah, somewhat local. I live in San Diego. Yeah, two miles away from the border.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

So that's a long drive, right, it's a commute.

Darren:

It's like a 20, 25 minute drive, but on a good day.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

But so there's some special I don't know barriers issues I don't know how you would describe it to being a commuter student right.

Nephi:

Well, so from my experience as a commuter is I had a car first week of semester. Car broke down, so now I'm on public transportation, so my commute now is an hour just taking two buses just to get to campus and then two buses to get home. So from my experiences midway through the semester so far, is that it's exhausting because I get out of class like at 9.50 sometimes and I won't get home till like 11.30.

Nephi:

So I'm basically just gassed and then just having to wake up extra early. So it's a lot of time management, but it's also like you got to be optimistic about it as well. You can't like let it deter your end goal, which is get good grades. But commuting is not the easiest task, I guess.

Darren:

Yeah, it's doable yeah, yeah, I really that hits close to home, because that's something I've not really been able to express a lot. Um, yeah, especially like last year, before I decided to fully commit, like especially senior year, right, um, I worked like um 30 hours a week on top of classes and then like my job. So I live in IB. So I live pretty close to my home.

Michael:

Yeah, we live in the same area. I didn't know. It's like what that's a commute. Oh my goodness, it's quite long away, right? Yes?

Darren:

yes, so I have that. I used to work like Canemesi area, so it's not a all this time management and everything. So when I finally made the sacrifice, like, okay, let me just work less but have that free time and that's why I really resonate with the idea of making college a third place, because having the resources here to really, because at the end of the day, the degree is like a commitment, something that you're investing in, right. So I like having I found a way where, okay, if the resource of me wanting to like fit in time for extracurriculars but on top of what I need to do, how do I dodge traffic that's going to keep me stuck for two hours? Right, because that could have been two hours studying.

Darren:

Well, that means, okay, let me wake up at like 5.30, so I dodge the traffic. I guess I'll find a way to work out and then just shower at the gym. You know that kind of a thing. So I think what like it sucks being a commuter student sometimes, but it's really really ingrained the idea of like with time management, just in a different way compared to like, I don't know, maybe a first year dorming trying to figure out how to juggle classes from a seminar class, you know.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

You said making college or campus a third place. What do you mean by that?

Darren:

Yeah, so that's something that I picked up from some book.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Look at you integrating your learning. Look at that buddy. Yeah, yeah.

Darren:

So something I picked up from like, um, like, uh, a history class, um, um, so really, the idea of like a third place is like you have your home or you have your work and then, um, everyone talks about like a work life balance and, um, everyone talks about like a work-life balance and no one really fits, or conventionally, there isn't the idea of fitting yourself in like it's home. But home is different for everyone, especially like for me, who's grown up in like a multi-generational household, right, and then there's work, where people time and time again will tell you to like separate yourself from work, but there isn't kind of a place to fit yourself in. So that's like kind of really fitting in. What a third place is? Um, for most people it looks like a cafe where they can just unwind and then maybe, um, you know, pick up like hobbies that they missed out on.

Darren:

Or it could be like a creative adventure where you know what I'm gonna cut out time like twice a week to go, you know, hiking, or like, maybe I could work on like a project. Um, for me what that's looked like is really picking up on the things that are kind of core to my identity, like, um, you know, just just really making sure that, like, um, as I'm juggling all of these multiple responsibilities, there's a place where how I kind of summarize it is like there's three core hobbies. You have to have One that is going to keep you creative so that's like for me, it's like music and reading, that kind of a thing and then one to keep you fit, like basketball, yeah, and then one to make sure you've got food on the plate roof over your head, so what are you passionate about? So just having a place that supports that and keeps that functioning is what I see as a third place.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Thank you. So before we wrap this episode up, let's go around. What's the takeaway message for today's podcast episode? What would you say? I don't know Michael Darren Neva.

Nephi:

Well, first off, this is doable. We have a place to actually do this. So, I think, aside from the actual like meat of what we're talking about, the technical aspect of it, which I think is awesome and, yeah, I think it's doable- For sure.

Darren:

I think main takeaway is to find that room that you haven't gone into and say hi to people. Yeah, wow, this is really cool from all the centers and it's like, yeah, university does provide more than you think. There's a ton of resources on campus. Really yeah.

Michael:

You can't tell, but I'm very, very excited, especially with all this technology and stuff, Because when I be making my own videos or what I'm planning on doing, it's like you literally have me have this, have my phone on a tripod and I have my old phone, which I would use as a microphone, and there's. I would have to get the mp3 file and just match it up onto like Premiere Pro, and you just see me just zooming in and zooming in just matching it.

Michael:

But like I don't know, this makes me very happy sweet yeah, all right.

Dr. Ricky Pope:

Well, that's the first episode of the home base podcast. Thanks for uh hanging out with us. Uh like follow subscribe yeah thanks for having us thanks for having us the home base podcast is a student success podcast recorded at the digital humanities center at san diego state university library. Like follow, subscribe. Find us on ig at sdsu underscore home base.

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