California State University, East Bay (CSUEB) is more than a college campus for freshman Liliana Alvarez: it’s also part of her family’s story.
Alvarez, from San Leandro, chose CSUEB for a combination of personal and practical reasons.
“It’s close to home, so I don’t have to pay for housing, and staying at home was important to me,” she explained, “I didn’t feel ready to just go out into the world yet.”
Student services and resources also played a significant role in her choice. “There’s so much support here. I knew I needed that, and it made me feel more comfortable choosing East Bay,” she said.
However, the ultimate factor contributing to Alvarez’s decision was her family’s deep and meaningful history with the university. Her mother, Diana, is a CSUEB alum, and Liliana’s two older sisters, Alejandra and Graciela, also currently attend the university. For Liliana, this created both comfort and motivation.
“My mom going to this school definitely drew me toward [CSU] East Bay because I knew it was special to her,” she said.
Alvarez added the decision felt more right knowing that her sisters are also on campus with her. Graciela, the middle sister, is currently a junior, while Alejandra, the oldest sister, transferred to CSUEB to finish her degree after previously attending UC Riverside and the University of Texas at Arlington.
Although each Alvarez sister is at a different stage of her academic journey, the shared experience of being CSUEB Pioneers strengthens their relationship. Liliana described campus life with her sisters as one of her favorite parts of being a CSUEB student.
“Honestly, I love the experience of sharing [CSU] East Bay with my sisters,” she said. While their schedules do not always align, Liliana and Graciela have created a small Tuesday ritual.
“We have an hour break at the same time, so we go get bagels from Einstein Bagels and then hang out in the car until our next classes. It’s my favorite part of the week,” Alvarez said. She laughed as she recalled yelling her sisters’ names across campus whenever she spots them, “They hate it, but I think it’s fun.”
Reflecting on her mother’s time at CSUEB, Alvarez noted that the campus has undergone various changes. Her mother often points out how buildings, teaching styles, and campus systems have evolved.
“I feel like there are more differences than similarities,” Alvarez said, “She’ll mention [to me] how things were taught differently or how certain buildings weren’t here. Even the support system is different now.”
Alvarez cherishes campus life with her sisters, but she also emphasized her love for the campus community and building strong connections with her peers. “I was really nervous about going to college,” she admitted, “But meeting people and starting to build community here, that’s been really memorable for me.”
Alvarez feels a greater sense of belonging knowing that CSUEB has been an integral part of her family for generations. By pursuing her degree at CSUEB, Alvarez acknowledged how proud she is to continue her family’s legacy.
“Knowing my mom has a good experience here makes me feel more confident in my own journey. It’s special to share this with my mom and my sisters,” she said, “East Bay feels like home for us, and now we’re all part of its story, too.”
