Mikey Sato '26
CSULB has become my second home. As an international student from Japan, moving to the United States and building a life from the ground up was challenging at first. Everything felt unfamiliar, but the people I met at CSULB made the transition easier and helped me feel supported from the very beginning.
Through dorming, working two campus jobs, rushing for a business fraternity, and being involved in multiple student organizations, I found a community that pushed me to grow both personally and professionally. Tutoring student-athletes at CSULB became one of my favorite experiences, and having been an athlete myself, I found it especially meaningful to support students balancing both academics and athletics while developing confidence in my leadership and communication skills.
Looking back, CSULB helped shape the person I am today. The friendships, mentorship, and opportunities I found here prepared me for what comes next, and no matter where life takes me, CSULB will always feel like home.
I chose CSULB because it felt like the right fit. The campus, location, and resources stood out to me, and I could see myself growing both academically and personally in an environment that offered strong academics alongside a vibrant campus life.
After graduating, I will be starting my career at Bloomberg in Tokyo. I’m looking forward to continuing to learn in a global environment and building on the skills I developed during my time at The Beach.
I plan to stay connected to The Beach through the friendships and relationships I built during my time on campus, especially through my on-campus jobs and student involvement. The sense of community I found at CSULB feels like a second family, and I know it’s a place I can always return to.
