Im Adrian, I spend most of my time biking around campus and taste testing every single dining hall! I can give you the scoop on the best and worse places to eat and study around campus. I also love nature and would love to tell you about our native and non native species around la jolla!

Hometown

palmdale

Major(s)

Interdisciplinary computing and the arts

Minor(s)

Cognitive science

Clubs, organizations & involvement

I have been a part of Call of duty club during freshman year, I created posters for them and went to some events at the triton esports center and had lots of fun. During sophomore year I became the bsu retention coordinator at spaces. Spaces is a student led center which allowed us to give more candid tours to students without the university censoring us. On these tours we mentioned the political history of the campus that the university often tries to cover up. I have led these tours even one that the Bsu ourselves made that provided black history about our campus to prospective students. As the retention coordinator I was on the black student union board and also worked a job as a program planner with the intention of increasing retention for the black student body at uc san diego. I created an event called rooted in care where attendees created terrariums and practiced companion planting while learning how to care for plants and themselves. I am very passionate about plants and wanted to make sure that the plants I provided during the event wouldn't die a couple days after. It was very successful and people greatly enjoyed it. During tours I give id love to share my botanical knowledge about campus with others, Ive spent extensive time around campus biking and I’d say I know every corner including the cool plants. Lastly I also became involved in queer trans people of color during sophomore year and was able to meet some of my best friends all while attending potlucks and education events in community with them.

Describe your college experience

I come from the desert so being in a coastal town like la jolla is a wonderful change of pace. I love to wake up and feel the brisk humid air, go on bike rides and beach trips with my friends. Uc san diego is notably known as an antisocial school and id say the stereotype is half true. You can approach students in hallways trying to strike up conversation and they will completely ignore and walk past you. However I was able to make my best friend during college by approaching her in a line at sun god. The people here are a mixed bag and the learning atmosphere is incredibly tense. Classes are hard and unforgiving when it comes to stem and for my major specifically the classes i take do not teach many job applicable skills.On top of this the systems that the school functions on are often times frustrating and confusing. The financial aid office will NOT answer any students. But, the food pantry’s are incredibly helpful. At ucsd there are many ups and downs not just because of the many hills that make it impossible to get to class on time, but because of the administrators, coursework and social environment.

Tip for future students

My biggest tip is to research extensively. Research the Ucsd college ranking you put on your application because that is where you'll end up spending most of your time if you dorm on campus. It also determines things like field trips and events you can enter because of college by college funding. Research the classes you take and make sure not to take too many rigorous classes at once. Research major requirements because its your job to make sure you graduate on time, and continue to look into all your options as you pursue your college career since its all in your hands now!

Favorite class

Vis 105a was by far my favorite class. After years of theory based art classes I was finally able to get hands on drawing experience through this class.

Career goals

After college I aim to go into game design. I love video games and want to have a job that invigorates me and motivates me to look at the future positively. I want a job that compliments my character and provides me a creative outlet! I would also love to continue my community service involvement outside of college, I am open to pursing a job that works with underserved communities and continue the work I began in SPAXES at ucsd.

Ideal way to spend a free night

My ideal way to spend a free night is to call up my friends and eat a big dinner together then watch a movie and joke throughout the entire thing.

High school or secondary school

knight high school

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus is a tiny viewpoint behind the la jolla playhouse across from eight college. I found it on my bike during freshman year by taking a small dirt path. Though it is secluded from the busy parts of campus there is a lot of charm about the small airy place. There are a lot of succulents surrounding the area such as the hardy aloe and mountain roses which frame the area so beautifully. There is also an incredible view of the chapel in la jolla along with the entire city, bustling roads, and the blue ocean alongside them. Even at night this view is beautiful.