In this installment of the Our Voices Photo Series, we spoke to Chapman University Cinematography and Film/Video Production Major Clarissa Morales ’25. Read about Clarissa’s Chapman experience below. Click here to learn about how Chapman is building more transparency on the actions being taken to advance a culture of inclusion and to share your voice.
Question: What does community mean to you and how has Chapman helped build that sense of community?
Answer: Community to me means being surrounded by people who are there to support you and help in any way they can, regardless of what they get in return. I have found that at Chapman, everyone surrounds you with positive attitudes. I’ve also found that parents seem to have that same feeling of togetherness. I’ve had a family come up to me and ask for directions even though they had never met me before. They felt comfortable enough with the community around them to come up to a random student. That’s the type of environment I want to keep promoting. With that experience, I found myself applying for a position as a tour guide to give families a true feel of what our community is and to show who we all are.
Because my major is also a highly collaborative space, I’ve experienced firsthand just how much everyone values getting and giving a helping hand. I’m able to connect with people who I’ve worked with on projects from months ago, ask for a favor and know that they would be willing to help. It is so much more than simply the friends you make, but all the people that constantly surround you at Chapman. We don’t feel the need to compete with each other. We all want each other to succeed. Faculty, staff, and professors are always willing to go the extra mile to help students as well. Everyone at Chapman wants to make the experience the best they possibly can for themselves and for others, which makes our community such a welcoming place.
