Hi, I'm Charli! I'm a rising sophomore double majoring in Psychological & Brain Sciences and Communications. UCSB has been my dream school since sixth grade, when I toured campus with my older brother and never looked at another school again. I'm a San Diego native, so between the beach, the flip-flops, and the fact that Jack Johnson is an alum, I was sold before I even applied. On campus, I'm a member of Pi Beta Phi, an active part of Chabad, and I recently joined UCSB's Testing Center as an Exam Coordination Assistant for the Disabled Students Program, a cause I care about deeply. I spent years as a competitive dancer and team captain back home, so I love people, energy, and building genuine community wherever I go. My favorite part of UCSB isn't any one thing, it's how supported, welcomed, and completely myself I've felt since day one. I'd love nothing more than to show you around and help you picture yourself here too, because trust me, once you feel it, you'll understand why I never toured anywhere else. Let's find your UCSB story together!

Hometown

San Diego

Major(s)

Psychological and Brain Sciences, Communications

Clubs, organizations & involvement

Throughout my time at UCSB, I've been lucky enough to find community in so many different corners of campus. In the fall, I rushed a Panhellenic sorority and found an incredible group of young women who share my values and the way I try to move through the world. Coming from a Jewish home, I'll admit I was nervous about what that part of my life would look like at school. Becoming an active member of Chabad answered that completely. It's given me community, comfort, and genuine fun, and a place where I can freely practice my religion alongside other Jewish students. I also love bringing my non-Jewish friends along to show them a piece of my culture. Honestly, one of my favorite things about UCSB is how open-minded everyone is, and I see it every time a friend excitedly chooses to spend their Friday night at Chabad with me instead of somewhere else. More recently, I joined the Testing Center as an Exam Coordination Assistant, where I proctor exams for the Disabled Students Program. It's work I believe in deeply, and I think programs like DSP are essential to the kind of equitable, inclusive culture that makes this school what it is.

Describe your college experience

UCSB has been my dream school since sixth grade, when I toured campus with my older brother. Learning Jack Johnson was an alum didn't hurt, but what really sealed it was watching everyone in flip-flops and board shorts sprinting to the beach between classes. As a San Diego native, I just knew. I was so sure, I didn't even tour anywhere other school, so you can imagine the relief when I got in. I arrived nervous but mostly excited, and that excitement was rewarded fast. My first dining hall trip was with my hall-mates, and we stayed up all night talking about home, hobbies, and everything in between with massive bowls of snacks that left me feeling sick for days. They became my UCSB family before week one was even over. My birthday landed on the first day of classes, and knowing I might be homesick, my roommates decorated my entire room and filled the day with celebration. That compassion and consideration set the tone for my whole year. It's genuinely hard to have a bad day here. Between the ocean views and the kindest, happiest college culture I could've imagined, I've never once felt unsupported or left out. Everyone around me is driven, curious, passionate, and extremely supportive. Now I live in a home on the ocean, falling asleep and waking up to the sound of waves. And whenever someone I know gets into UCSB, I call them, and I don't hang up until they understand just how special this place really is, even if that takes two hours and thirty-four minutes :)

Tip for future students

The biggest thing I wish I'd known is that everyone else is just as terrified as you are. Leaving home and suddenly living on your own with a bunch of total strangers is scary, there's no way around it. But once you realize that every single person around you is feeling that same nervous energy, just trying to find their own sense of familiarity and community, it stops feeling so intimidating. You're not the only one starting from scratch, which means you're never really starting alone.

Favorite class

My absolute favorite class would have to be Greek Mythology that I took my fall quarter. Freshman year of high school, following a required read of "The Odyssey," I became infatuated with the Trojan War, and the generational curse called the House of Atreus that followed. Getting to learn from a professor that was as passionate about the subject as I am, and partake in a discussion section with fellow curious students was a highlight of my freshman year. I also got to write an essay about Medusa, and she became my newfound Greek Mythology obsession.

Career goals

After college, I hope to work in talent acquisition, HR management, or industrial-organizational psychology. I love people and teams, and I'm especially drawn to anything centered on company culture, how to build a team of people who genuinely support one another and the company they're a part of.

Ideal way to spend a free night

I have to start with a disclaimer that this would only be possible on a Wednesday because Wednesday's are the best day ever since it is the night that Pizza Pub does Trivia night. Before arriving at Trivia night, may friends and I all decided to sunset swim together after eating dinner, AND they had the vanilla cupcakes with chelate frosting on them at the dining hall so we are eating our cupcakes as we walk to the beach. We sunset dip, and change into comfy clothes after. Then, we walk to pizza pub with, and I get one slice of cheese and one slice of pepperoni, and claim one of the big booths in the back. We would get extremely competitive as we try our best to win trivia. Ideally we win, and because this is an ideal day, we won!! Then we would go to Woodstocks to see the band playing. Since this is the perfect day, Birchwood is playing and we know all of the songs. We all walk home together, and go back to one room where we all squeeze onto the bottom bunk. Around 10, I go home and get the best night of sleep, so I can be up early and feel well rested for the day ahead.

High school or secondary school

Torrey Pines High School

Favorite spot on campus

My favorite spot on campus would have to be the bluffs by Campus Point Beach. In order to get to them, you walk up the stairs by campus point beach and take the skinny path on the left. My current housemates and I became friends through our ritual of attending the bluffs every night for sunset following our DLG dinner. And when I say every night, I mean Every. Night. For me, the bluffs represent the community I found, and the care my friends and I have for each other (given that we were consistently willing to block off a chunk of our day to enjoy the sunset together).