{"id":3036,"date":"2026-05-15T15:28:34","date_gmt":"2026-05-15T22:28:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/?p=3036"},"modified":"2026-05-27T15:33:01","modified_gmt":"2026-05-27T22:33:01","slug":"finding-community-ecampus-student","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/finding-community-ecampus-student\/","title":{"rendered":"Finding community as an Ecampus student"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n

A different kind of college experience<\/h2>\n

When making the big decision of what university I wanted to attend and what major I wanted to study, I kept coming backto Oregon State University Ecampus.<\/p>\n

After making this decision and getting accepted into the online agricultural science program<\/a>, many of my high school teachers and advisors were concerned. They said I would miss out on so many opportunities, and I would regret not going to college on campus for the full \u201ccollege experience.\u201d They said missing out on crowded lecture halls and late-night study sessions with my new college friends would be something I would regret later in life.<\/p>\n

While completing my degree, I wondered if they might be right. Later in life, will I look back and regret not attending a traditional university like most people my age?<\/p>\n

However, through my journey as an online student, I have had many opportunities to grow my knowledge and invest my time into many other organizations and companies. Through those experiences, I am able to avoid concerns about missing the \u201ccollege experience\u201d and opportunities for my future.<\/p>\n

During the day, I work full-time as an operations coordinator at Outlier Construction. Although this may not be where most people would picture a 20-year-old college student, I have been able to learn the ins and outs of the commercial construction industry and how it relates to the agricultural industry while fine-tuning my leadership skills and building experience in marketing and safety.<\/p>\n

My education does not compete with my current field of work but only strengthens it, and this is one of the hidden advantages of being an Ecampus student.<\/p>\n

When I am not working during the day and completing assignments in the evenings, I serve as a 4-H leader for youth in agriculture who show pigs, sheep, goats and cattle at the county fair. This role has become one of the most meaningful parts of my life. This is where my agricultural major and leadership minor that I am studying at Oregon State are really applied to real life.<\/p>\n

Watching kids build confidence, pride and a sense of responsibility through their projects reminds me of why I chose my degree in the first place. This position I serve in reminds me that community is not something that you join but something you create.<\/p>\n

One of the most unexpected gifts of being an Ecampus student is that your education travels with you. Last summer, I studied abroad in Costa Rica through Oregon State while also completing my online classes. I was learning about sustainable agriculture in a foreign country during the day and logging into Canvas at night.<\/p>\n

I would encourage all students to explore these opportunities.\u00a0 Studying abroad was one of the most memorable and unique experiences part of my time as an Ecampus student.<\/p>\n

Even now, as I plan vacations or I am at the county fair with my 4-H kids all week long, I do not have to pause my education. My classes come with me.<\/p>\n

Whether I am at home, in another country or sitting at an airport, I am still connected to my degree, my professors and my peers. That flexibility<\/a> has become its own kind of community which adapts to my life instead of forcing my life to adapt to it.<\/p>\n

I used to think community was something that happened to you \u2014 something I had to join and adapt to. Now, I understand that community is built by you and by the roles you take on, the people you serve and the passions you pursue.<\/p>\n

My community is spread across construction jobsites, livestock barns, exploring foreign countries and late nights on my laptop completing Canvas assignments. This has taught me the value of your college experience is not measured by being in a traditional classroom, but it is measured by how deeply you grow, connect and contribute along the way.<\/p>\n

If you ever feel like you\u2019re missing out, you\u2019re not alone. But community is everywhere. You just have to recognize the places where you already belong and be open to the ones you haven\u2019t discovered yet.<\/p>\n

Whether it\u2019s through your job, your classes or that passion you have always wanted to fulfill, you have the power to build a college experience that is meaningful, connected and uniquely yours.<\/p>\n

\n

Discover how Lexus and other members of the Ecampus Student Advisory Board impact the online student experience at Oregon State University, and read about eligibility and participation requirements.<\/em><\/p>\n

Learn about the Student Advisory Board<\/a><\/h3>\n
\n
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<\/h3>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

<\/span> 3<\/span> minute read<\/span><\/span>I used to think community was something that happened to you \u2014 something I had to join and adapt to. Now, I understand that community is built by you and by the roles you take on, the people you serve and the passions you pursue. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":98,"featured_media":3008,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[1,672,677,674],"tags":[374,698],"class_list":["post-3036","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-all","category-learning-experience","category-students-and-alumni","category-tips","tag-college-of-agricultural-sciences","tag-student-advisory-board-blog-series"],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/assets\/In-their-words-Lexus-Downing.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/p7BNSE-MY","jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":1746,"url":"https:\/\/ecampus.oregonstate.edu\/news\/ecampus-honors-faculty-staff-2021\/","url_meta":{"origin":3036,"position":0},"title":"OSU Ecampus honors faculty, staff for commitment to online learning and students","author":"Carly Fredericks","date":"May 5, 2021","format":false,"excerpt":"The Oregon State Ecampus Awards showcase OSU Ecampus faculty and staff commitment to online education, student success and course development. 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Start here","author":"Megan McDonald","date":"March 10, 2025","format":false,"excerpt":"Determined to find community, an Oregon State online student navigated digital platforms to join \u2014 and lead \u2014 clubs from a distance When I transferred to Oregon State University, I was quick to explore ways to get involved as a student. 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