Xan Mikhail Yakov R. Balayan '21
I began my academic endeavors at CSULB in Fall 2016, straight after high school. Although, I was not supposed to go to The Beach. I originally committed to Cal Poly Pomona for my degree and was waitlisted to attend Long Beach State. When the chance to attend Long Beach arose, I did not hesitate to make the switch. With my interests in the aerospace industry, I joined the liquid-propulsion rocket team, Beach Launch Team, on my first semester and have held the position Structures Assistant Lead from 2017-18. Leadership experience on campus was an instrumental factor in my college career. Since these experiences were limited in high school, I was ambitious on taking leadership positions in student government at LBSU. With that, I joined Beach Team for mentorship and guidance on my first semester. That led me to be elected as Senator for the College of Engineering in the year 2017-18, and a Trustee-at-Large for the University Student Union Board of Trustees in the years 2018-19, 2019-20, and 2020-21 with the last 2 years being Chair of the Board. Some agenda items I pushed for were free menstrual hygiene products in the USU and SRWC, the relocation of the Grow Beach Garden, a Healthy Demonstration Kitchen, and a Facility and Program Needs Assessment for the USU and SRWC to name a few. I am the leader I am today because of the incredible mentorship of senior staff and executives from the Associated Students, Inc (ASI). Lastly, I have had the phenomenal opportunity to intern and learn firsthand from experienced engineers at the Boeing Company from 2019-20 through their partnership with the CSULB Research Foundation.
A couple of years after immigrating to the United States from the Philippines, I would pass by LBSU on 7th street and tell myself, “I’m gonna go to college here.” Young and naïve, I did not know how hard it was to get accepted to universities here in the US. As senior year of high school approached, I lined up the universities I wanted to apply to. In Spring 2016, I received a notification that I was waitlisted to go to The Beach. As College Decision Day came up, I committed to Cal Poly Pomona for my degree in Aerospace Engineering. Then a couple weeks later, I heard back from Long Beach State stating I was accepted into the same program. With that, I made no hesitation in making the switch. Speaking and thinking your future into fruition is very powerful!
I will be working in the aerospace industry on commercial aircraft or spacecraft. I will continue my educational endeavors in the next few years to attain my master’s degree.
I want to continue making a difference in the campus community, sharing my experiences, and becoming a mentor to students pursuing their dreams.
