This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at Cal State LA chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.
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There are some students on campus that are everywhere without being seen, and Timmy Truong is one of those students, with good reason. As Managing Editor, main photographer and social media liaison of the University Times (the school newspaper), Timmy has to be present at every event and occurance that is relevant to the campus. After three years at Cal State LA, Timmy has covered events like the 2013 Bomb Threat, the Investiture of President Covino, and the LA Mayoral Debates. His presence on campus has made him well known, with the school’s Public Affairs department contacting him for photography work. Timmy was even a recipient of a scholarship award from the Study Abroad department to study in Hong Kong and Xi’an, China for part of the summer! All of his success is perfect for his major, Television, Film and Media with a focus on Broadcast Journalism. Make sure to keep an eye out for him and his handy dandy camera while walking around campus.
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What got you interested in your major?
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As an eager wide eyed freshman, I was looking for ways to get involved on campus. Photography had always been a hobby of mine, so when I noticed the school paper had no original photos, I took it upon my self to solve that problem. I started to go to as many events on campus that I could and take photos. Unfortunately many of the events I photographed on campus never had any accompanying stories, so I began to write the stories myself. The more events I covered, the more people I met, and the more fun I had. I liked telling people’s stories and decided I wanted to pursue a career in journalism. With some help of some encouraging friends, I decided to pursue broadcast journalism so I could combine my enjoyment for telling stories visually and verbally.
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In what ways are you involved on campus?
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I spend most of my free time with the University Times, the campus newspaper at Cal State LA, but I love it. It has been a life changing experience and helped me grow tremendously as a young adult. The few hours that I get away from the University Times I spend with the Cal State LA Vietnamese Student Association. or VSA. Although I am actually Chinese, my parents were both born in Vietnam, so culture wise, my family is more Vietnamese. I myself was born and raised as a Cali Kid and lived a very American life. So when I found out there was a VSA on campus I thought it would be a great way to get in touch with my culture. Over the years I have been able to do that, and so much more. I made new friends, learn leadership skills, social skills, and just have a great time.
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What has been your favorite part about attending Cal State LA?
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My favorite part about attending Cal State L.A. has been the opportunities it has given me. I feel that getting involved on this campus it is much more achievable. When I think about what would have happened if I went to another university, I imagine my self feeling insignificant and lost in a huge system that is difficult to become apart of. Here at at Cal State LA, I believe that there is a bit of something for everyone to be apart of and if you don’t feel like there is something that appeals to you, you can easily create a club or organization that would.Â
What interesting projects have you been able to shoot in recent years? Do you have a favorite?
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Over the years I have covered many interesting subjects. I have photographed amazing CSULA theatre productions like Hair, the former President of France Nicolas Sarkozy, an LA Mayoral debate, many heated protests, campus fashion shows and human rights pioneer, former No. 1 tennis player and CSULA Alumna Billie Jean King.
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My most memorable would be on April 18, 2013. That day an anonymous call was made stating there was a bomb on campus. The campus was being  evacuated  but leaving was the last thing on my mind. Most students, myself included, didn’t know what was going on so I stayed behind to ask questions. I got this rush throughout my body; I just had to find out what was going on. Eventually word spread there was a bomb threat. By then I was pushed out of campus and I roamed outside of the campus taking pictures. The campus was a ghost town with almost no students in sight. Police and Professors kept me from getting too close but when news crews started to arrive I was able to trail behind them and get past the perimeter. I introduced myself to the reporters and photographers and told them I worked for the school paper and they let me tail them the rest of the day. It was amazing to work side by side with my professional counterparts and really solidified my dream of being a journalist. I was able to have a unique experience that no other student on campus had that day. Seeing police search all over campus with K-9s, hearing commands over the police radios and being apart of media press conference. It’s something people only see on the movies nd I got to experience first hand. Although it could have been very dangerous, it’s one experience I would definitely do again.
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What are your career goals? Where do you see yourself in 5 or 10 years?
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I hope to have something called a job in 5 to 10 years. I would love to be a news photographer. It’s not as glamorous as it seems; it’s actually quite dangerous and the pay is not that great. But I think I would be happy not being in a cubical. I want to always be meeting new people, and making a difference in the world.
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You were a scholarship recipient in Summer 2014 to travel to Hong Kong and Xi’an, China. Can you tell us about the trip and your experience while you were there?
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Going to Hong Kong and China was a once in a life time experience. I made amazing friends and memories that I will never forget. I cried like 5 times the day we all left. Hong Kong and China have very different cultures and although technically Hong Kong is apart of China, they were drastically different. Hong Kong was much more western and had a exciting nightlife where Xi’an China had a much more rustic atmosphere. Both places were beautiful but in different ways. China has beautiful traditional architecture and awe inspiring natural beauty like mountains and forrest that look like they were from an ancient Chinese watercolor. Hong Kong had amazing amounts of skyscrapers and modern architecture that lit up the night sky. The Hong Kong skyline is so awe inspiring it rivals the stars.Â
Your Instagram (@timmytusa) has lots of food photos! Where’s your favorite place to eat in Alhambra?
I love Gyros and one of my favorite places in Alhambra is John’s Kabob. It’s a small place; pretty much in the middle of a road and has four parking spaces. It’s a bit pricey but the food makes up for the inconvenience and price.
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Anything else that would be interesting to know about you?
I was once in a Buzzfeed article. I’m number 13.
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Timmy’s work can be see on his website and on the University Times’ Flickr account.