What does community really mean and why is it so important to maintain as a big part of our life? We are all united and separated by one significant element of our everyday life - community. Communities are an essential part of our life that impacts our world view and approach to life. However, community can be seen in a huge spectrum of eclectic representations. For instance, Woodbury University which is located in Burbank, California has a number of students who belong to the community of Woodbury and yet, represent their own sub-communities, or little tribes that they belong to.
Patricia Hajjar
Patricia Hajjar is a Senior Graphic Designer at Woodbury University. She has a passion for design and art. While approaching Patricia, she was designing posters which truly shows that there are no days off for this fierce designer.
“I believe community is being part of a greater whole. The decisions that are made by the community will impact one’s future and goals. I compare these community oriented beliefs to her past, present and future."
Allison Chan
Allison Chan is the Public Services Assistant and Serials Manager at Woodbury University. Laughing and continuing to work, Chan multitasked as she explained her vision of the community.
“I think the word community means home away from home. Although I do think it also has to do with a supportive environment or group of people with the same values, I really think it is the home away from home.”
Monica Babaian
Most do not often expect to be approached by two strangers asking to give an interview while putting on your makeup on a sunny day in the quad. That’s how the twenty-two-year-old senior psychology, Monica Babaian, felt when we abruptly interrupted her glam session.
“The word 'community' has many different meanings in my opinion. To me, community means to have a group of like-minded individuals who I share similar interests, activities and goals with. I associate it with my fellow psychology students while working on my senior thesis. I work along with the Armenian students at the Armenian Student Association events and fundraisers."
Czarah Castro
Recognized by Graphic Design Magazine’s Student to Watch list for an outstanding performances Czarah Castro, a 21-years-old senior graphic design major student, from Norwalk which is in California shared her vision and story of her Graphic Design tribe.
"In Downtown, I can easily identify myself as belonging to the art enthusiast community. Community may be seen in many different perspectives and represented by very different individuals. To me community is a group of people who don’t necessarily know each other but they all have a sense of responsibility for the common ground that brings them together, which in the case of Woodbury, is our campus. Under this umbrella of the Woodbury community, I’ve found myself to be comfortable within the MCD tribes… However, community is community but you as an individual, you have to stay special so that way you can still donate your special ability to the community.”
Meshal
Meshal is an international student form Saudi Arabia. He is a 27 year old Communication major. His favorite obsessions are cars and dogs. He works online for his father's company. He helps to promote the company through social media.
"The word community to me defines the ability of one to communicate with another on the same wave. However, for those who may struggle with communication, community may sound more like a search for information about a person by using social media to find that common wave..."
Mohammed
Mohammed is an international student from Saudi Arabia. He often watches F1 race with his friends. He is currently a full time student, minoring in science, because he craves knowledge like nothing else in his life.
"Usually, apart from my classes my friends and I always attend major sport events. Generally I do everything with my friends... But the best part is sharing... because it is what drives the definition of community in us."
Basma Alkadi
Basma Alkadi is a passionate Fashion design student at Woodbury University. She is currently a junior from Saudi Arabia. This is her second degree, after receiving an administration business degree in Bahrain back in 2012.
"Community is my life...It surrounds me everyday everywhere... It includes many sacred elements of my life such as: Family, friends, and people I care about. Community is a very unique and important term because it includes so many important parts of our life."
Ecco Driscoll
Ecco was born and raised in the Bay Area in Northern California, and is currently majoring in Communication.
"Community is a sense of togetherness. In an academic sense, Woodbury is platform for communities of people to come together and learn. Community comes in all forms--family, friendship, even social media communities and share a commonality: All are connected by a sense of togetherness."