Q&A: Home Away from Home
Nikole Salinas and Mikaela Lagunes | Pulse
Students at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley discuss the theory of a third place, the benefits of having one and share some of their favorite places with Pulse to relax and recharge.
The term “third place” was coined by sociologist Ray Oldenburg in his novel “The Great Good Place”. Third places refers to areas away from an individual’s work or home.
Q: Please introduce yourself with your name, class, and major.
A: My name is Daira Rojas, and my major is exercise science with a concentration in physical therapy.
Q: What is your third place?
A: I guess the track, because I’m in the Cross Country and Track & Field team, so in between classes I go to do my training.
Q: Does having that training really help you get your mind off of school and help you relax?
A: Yes, it really does. It helps me to get the stress out and focus on my mental health.
Q: How has it impacted your mental health?
A: Well, it has impacted positively because it has helped me to clear my mind. I not only train my physical body, but also my mental [health], my mindset.
Q: How has having a third place impact your school life?
A: Well, it has impacted me for the better because I know I have to focus on school too, but I also do my workouts. In between, I have to force myself to do my homework and also train hard.
Q: Please introduce yourselves with your name, class, and major.
A: My name is Anne Jacob, I’m a freshman, and my major is biology and psychology.
A: Hello, my name is Angelina Anthony, and my major is in civil engineering, and I’m a freshman.
Q: What is that third place for you guys?
A (A.J): Either the game room or the library.
Q: Has having a third place really helped with your schooling and your mental health?
A (A.A): I think it really helps me relieve all the stress from classes and all the work. Question: Why do you think having a third place has impacted your life the way it has?
A (A.J):I feel like your life wouldn’t be very entertaining [without a third place] and obviously that can spiral to worse things. A [third] place [helps you] to relax and not feel the stress of everything around.
Q: Please introduce yourself with your name, class, and major.
A: Hi, my name is Brissa Estrada, I am a senior, a social work student.
Q: And what is a third place for you?
A: The University Library, I find it very peaceful. I usually pick up a coffee, head up to the third floor and just focus on my work.
Q: And when did you start going to the University Library as sort of a safe space? ,
A: Maybe my junior year, I felt overwhelmed by a lot of work, so just the quietness of it really helped me.
Q: Does the University Library help you relieve stress and be the best student you can be?
A: Yeah, so I really love books, so being around the stacks actually really helps me, I feel calm there and it’s actually pretty quiet sometimes, so I find the desk in the corner and just breathe in the scent of the books.
Q: What’s your favorite memory that you’ve made in the library?
A: My favorite memory was actually finding a journal on their dissertation paper from one of my professors here. I’ve actually got to read it and it really made me feel him as a person instead of like this person above me.
Q: Do you have any advice you would give to freshmen that are coming into this new year, help find their safe space here on campus?
A: Depending on what you like, just find your secluded corner. If you like being around people, then go somewhere with more people. If you like being alone, the library is a great place, especially the stacks but if you don’t know, then trial and error always helps.
