Starting social giant leaps with a few small steps

Humza Syed, a Biomedical Engineering/Film and Video Studies major, says although the size of a Big Ten school can be daunting at first, Purdue has a unique culture of prioritizing supportive communities. So much so, that its own culture is the solution.

Access to the nearly 1,000 student clubs and organizations plays a major role. “The moments I have found a real sense of community and belonging at Purdue have often come in different club and organizational activities,” Humza says.

For him, it meant joining Purdue Old Masters, a student organization that annually invites to campus successful and distinguished professionals to share their ideas and experiences with the student body. “It has shown me just how important we students are to one another,” he says.

In fact, Humza firmly believes the support and encouragement a person receives as a Boilermaker benefits not just their academics, but the whole student, too.

“The community is what makes Purdue a place that helps you grow and understand who you are and how you belong. I think it’s one of the first places where you can establish yourself as an individual and see how you fit in to a bigger picture,” he says. “And that gives you a real sense of pride.”

For more resources on student balance, well-being and campus-wide support, visit the Steps to Leaps Initiative website.