Students have likely noticed a handful of changes implemented by administration this year — IDs distributed a week into the year, different absence slips and the introduction of the student union. The student union is a combination of the College and Career Center and the library, and aspires to be a resource hub for students.

“Two years ago we were in room A138, which is right across the hall from the counseling office, and that room got repurposed so we temporarily used the alumni room last year. Now I think there’s a bigger vision to make this a student union,” College and Career Advisor Jonathan Dhyne said.

Career Coordinator and Service Liaison Carrie Hermann echoed a similar need and appreciation for the space.

“The alumni [room] typically is used for large meetings, and although it was a great space and we love to be close to the counseling team, administration envisioned having a space where students really felt like they could come and they could access resources,” Hermann said. “We have access to space, and we don’t have to worry about other meetings or conflicts with other meetings in the alumni room.” 

Nothing has changed about the purpose of the College and Career Center — it remains a place for students to inquire about issues they may have regarding college or job opportunities. Right now, the center is hosting informational college presentations for interested applicants — often juniors and seniors — to attend.

“They could just come in here to learn anything that has to do with either college, preparing for college, paying for college,” Hermann said. “On my side of things, they could come see me about anything related to service opportunities, engaging with the Burlingame High School community, or the community outside of Burlingame. Volunteer opportunities, career exploration, or really anything related to preparing for and securing a job.” 

Library technician Maurine Seto is hopeful that centralizing the College and Career Center and library offerings will keep students coming back.

“I think we’ll hopefully get more foot traffic, and there will be more kids coming into the library to see what books we have,” Seto said.

However, even with the relocation of the College and Career Center, the library will stay as its own entity. But some change is unavoidable: most notably, the increase in library foot traffic has caused an uptick in eating in the library, said Seto.

“The biggest change is that when [the College and Career Center] have presentations [students] are allowed to eat in the library,” Seto said.

Everybody involved in the student union is excited for the development to finally be fully implemented and available for the Burlingame community.

“I think as we get settled, we’re able to kind of decorate the inside and the outside,” Dhyne said. “I think it will start to feel more like home.”