Chico State students start their fall semester of classes

CHICO — Chico State students began their fall semester Monday and some students had their first day of official classes Tuesday.

Student Suraya Shelton sat on a bench outside the Arts and Humanities Building on Tuesday afternoon. Shelton is a senior and will be graduating in May. She is a history major and wants to get a pre credential and teach students at the middle or high school level.

She transferred from Butte College after receiving her associates degree there.

“It’s been a long four years!” Shelton said with a laugh.

Shelton’s family lives in the area and she loves Chico.

“It’s a lovely place to be,” she said.

Shelton traveled to Greece this summer for a study abroad for two weeks outside Athens. “It was lovely there,” she said. “I learned a lot about history.”

Shelton said her first day of classes was “stellar.” “It’s been great,” she said. “My teachers are super nice.”

Emily Henderson also took a little break outside the Arts and Humanities building. Henderson is also a senior and will be graduating in May. She is majoring in liberal studies and wants to teach at the elementary level.

“I want to teach the little ones especially,” she said.

Henderson said her first day was good so far.

“I have no complaints,” she said. “Also I’m just kind of seeing the finish line.”

Henderson is unsure whether she wants to stay in Chico after graduating. She is from Nicolaus and commutes to Chico State.

Lauren Phillips is also a senior and graduating in May. She is majoring in business and minoring in project management and had just come out of her first class of the semester. She was typing on her computer outside on a bench on campus.

“I’ve had just one class so far,” Phillips said. “It’s called the science of climate change. It’s really interesting.”

Phillips said the class was a typical first day of class.

“It was good, we went over the basics and what to expect and went over the syllabus,” she said.