Being (Home) at CU

Home isn’t always one place, and it can change and grow during your time at CU. Learn from students who are far from where they started, whether that’s another state, another country or even another continent. From taking big leaps out of small towns to finding connection abroad, these stories show how students create belonging wherever they go. 

Bergen Backes

Bergen Backes headshot

Bergen Backes, a senior Media Production major at the University of Colorado Boulder's College of Communication, Media, Design and Information, embodies the adventurous spirit of campus life. From sailing across the seas for a semester to exploring the mountainous landscapes at home in Colorado, Bergen seizes every opportunity to grow personally and creatively. Her journey highlights the value of saying "yes" to new experiences.  

What is your favorite memory from your time at CU Boulder, so far? 

My favorite memory from my time at CU would definitely be doing Semester at Sea in the spring semester of my junior year. It was such a unique experience most college kids don’t get, even with traveling abroad. I was able to visit 10 different countries over four months and met a lot of people from CU Boulder on the ship. I created some of the best friendships and best memories I’ve ever had in my life on that ship.  

What is something you would like to accomplish before your graduation?  

Some of the things I still want to accomplish before I graduate are actually a lot of the classic “Boulder-y” things I haven’t done. I just want to hike more, be outside more and enjoy our campus more because we are so lucky to live in such a beautiful state and be right next to the mountains. I want to take more time to appreciate campus while I’m a student before I have to leave in December [2024].  

What life lesson have your experiences here taught you that will be valuable beyond CU?

I think the biggest life lesson I’ve learned as a student here that [applies] to my time on this campus and during Semester at Sea is to just say “yes” to everything. I came into college not being very outgoing, but I’ve taught myself that the best way to have great opportunities or experiences is just to say yes. If people want to go out, you say yes. If they want to go to a football game, you say yes. The same thing goes for being on the ship—if there was anything people wanted to do, you said yes to going and doing it.  

What one word describes your role or a quality you bring to our campus community? 

I think the one word that would sum up my character on CU’s campus is being “adventurous.” Because, again, that’s not really something I did in high school, and I feel like college has driven me so much more out of my shell, and I’ve done things that I never thought I’d ever do in my life just being on campus.  

Do you feel like this word encompasses all your contributions, or is there more to share?

I think that word encompasses a lot of what I have done because I believe the word “adventurous” encapsulates so much, from going out of my way in terms of being a leader in a job position or a classroom to being more creative and outgoing in my major itself. Media production is very broad, so I’ve had the opportunity to do a lot of creative projects I never saw myself doing. I think it is just a good word to encapsulate everything.  

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Noah Jacobson

Noah Jacobson headshot

Noah Jacobson is a sophomore, junior by credits, studying finance at the University of Colorado Boulder. Originally from northern Minnesota, he has taken on the challenges of adjusting to a new environment, making friends and diving into his passion for real estate. For Noah, college has been about stepping out of his comfort zone and fully embracing new experiences.  

What is your favorite memory from your time at CU Boulder, so far?  

My favorite memory since starting school here is probably from last year. It was one of the first big blizzards of the season, and I was able to get a lot of my friends together for a ski trip. We went to Steamboat Springs and it was so much fun. We rented an Airbnb and got to know each other better. We were all in the same residence hall, and that's how we met each other.   

What is something you would like to accomplish before your graduation? 

Something I really want to accomplish before I graduate from CU next year is transferring my real estate license to Colorado. I’ve been working as a real estate agent for the past year and a half in Minnesota, and it’s something I love. It’s something I’ve learned so much more about at CU and I know I want to pursue it as I grow older. I would love to transfer my license and start working as a real estate agent in Colorado. 

What life lesson have your experiences here taught you that will be valuable beyond CU? 

I think [my experiences] have taught me to be adaptable. At CU, there are a lot of different people who come from all different kinds of lives, all different backgrounds. If you're not willing to learn from them and work with people who have different beliefs than you, then you're not going to be able to go very far. So, the primary thing I've learned so far is just to be adaptable and work with people. Everyone has their own point of view and comes from their past experiences and their beliefs to do what they think is right. 

What one word describes your role or a quality you bring to our campus community? 

The one thing I believe I contribute to this campus and the community is that I am perseverant. I grew up differently than just about everyone I've met here. I grew up in a town of just over 100 people in northern Minnesota, where going to college—especially out of state—isn’t the norm. I took a leap of faith and came here, and I have been surrounded by the best people I could have asked for. But I did have to rely on my perseverance, going into an uncomfortable setting that wasn’t like anything I'd experienced before and being different than my peers. I have been welcomed with open arms by so many people, but something I keep in the back of my mind is that I do have to persevere and go through and deal with things that the normal Boulder student wouldn’t. 

Do you feel like this word encompasses all your contributions, or is there more to share? 

I feel I have brought a lot more to campus. Whether it’s being a support system for my friends or just being a free spirit who invites people from CU to join me in experiences like skiing for the first time or hiking in the mountains. I like to think I’m dependable—someone people can come to for advice—and supportive. 

Coming from the small town I grew up in, the size of Boulder was daunting. Going to a big state school wasn't something I was used to, and it wasn’t something any of my friends or family had experienced. I was nervous, but once I got here, I discovered that the campus is actually a lot more connected than you think it is. I met a lot of my friends in the residence halls my first year, and by going to Farrand Field to introduce myself to other people. It's been great to see that a year can go by, and you can still spark conversation with another CU student, because you have so much to relate on and talk about. That's something that surprised me on campus, but it’s also something I’m really grateful for.