I jump at any opportunity to learn and teach because I really value intellectual curiosity. I am outgoing and always looking forward to connecting with people and making them feel special, heard, and seen. I am Colombian, and I genuinely appreciate learning about other people’s cultures and perspective

Hometown

Englewood Colorado

Minor(s)

applied psychology, legal humanities, or sociology

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Club triathlon, club swim, sorority, volunteering at friendship manor mainly along with helping out other places, turtleup, scuba club, SBK club, and Stella Polaris

Describe your college experience

Considering that I was very busy in high school and was really only home to sleep, I thought moving to a different state and away from my parents would be easy. I was definitely wrong and greatly underestimated how difficult the transition would be. It was a process of rediscovering who I was and pushing myself outside of my comfort zone. However, throughout the entire process, I can confidently say that I received the support and care I needed from my school’s resources and the people around me. So far, college has taught me things I never knew about myself and has shown me the importance of being confident and trusting myself

Tip for future students

I wish I had known that you will eventually find your people. It might not happen right away, but you will find people who make you feel like you belong. You are going to hear this a lot, but take advantage of every opportunity and make the most of it. If you are going to do something, you might as well do it well. Also, constantly look for new things you haven’t tried yet. UCSB has so much to offer, so don’t settle for only what feels comfortable. My biggest piece of advice is that it never hurts to stop and say hello to someone or smile at a stranger. People are very friendly, so take advantage of opportunities to connect with others and maintain those connections.

Favorite class

I took a class called Introduction to Legal Humanities, and it was absolutely amazing. You could tell that the professors and teaching assistants genuinely cared about teaching the students and helping them learn, not just having them memorize information. The environment was very friendly and welcoming. I am not someone who likes to speak up in large lectures, but because the environment and the people were so great, I was able to speak up a few times. What we learned in this class focused on issues and topics that are affecting us now, which helped us stay engaged and motivated to keep learning more.

Career goals

I’m not entirely sure what career I would like to pursue after college, but I know that I feel most fulfilled when I am making a positive difference—whether that means protecting the environment, helping people, or raising awareness about issues that affect us now and will continue to affect us in the future. I hope to become as educated as possible in whichever field I choose to pursue. Being passionate about my work is very important to me because it ensures that I give 100% every day to the things I care about. Throughout college, I hope to explore different career paths and discover how I can use my interests and education to make a meaningful difference.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night would be to take a nice, long walk down DP with my friends, go for a sunset dip, get dinner at Hummus Republic, and then have dessert at IV Drip. Afterward, we would see if anything fun was happening, like a party or a live band, and go check it out. Then, we would end the night at Super Cucas with all our friends.

High school or secondary school

I went to St. Mary's Academy

Favorite spot on campus

This area always has people walking and biking through it, and I would say it is the liveliest part of campus. You see everything from people getting pied and handing out things they baked to booths that inform students about what is happening around campus. There are also people sitting on the grass, enjoying the sun, and usually even someone playing the piano. Not to mention, you will almost always run into someone you know while walking down this stretch, and it is always nice to see a friendly face. You really get a sense of the wide variety of backgrounds, people, and opportunities UCSB has to offer. Its a place that makes me feel connected to the UCSB community.