Tag: 21-22: Sabrina

A major goal that I set for myself at the beginning of this year was to find an academic passion that I would be willing to dedicate my undergraduate career to. Throughout my four years at an arts high school prior to entering UCI, I focused on the single art that I was admitted to the school for: Creative Writing. I attended a variety of Creative Writing courses after my academic classes, I based several of my extracurricular activities on Creative Writing, and I built my college applications around my writing experiences. After realizing that I did not want to major in English or a related subject in college, it seemed that I had lost an intrinsic sense of direction that had guided me during high school and even middle school, when I held aspirations of being a professional author. This loss compelled me to apply to Undeclared programs, although I felt that my decision would ultimately set me behind other peers who had already developed the sense of direction that I longed for. 

However, the insight that I have received from mentors and faculty encouraged me to dispel the belief that equated being Undeclared with being behind, and I gained greater confidence in my ability to find an academic subject I am passionate about. I took classes in Psychology and Sociology that piqued my interest, discovering a curiosity for these subjects that I did not explore as much as I wanted to in high school. I enjoy learning about both the micro-level cognitive processes that enable complex human functioning, as well as the macro-level interactions between different groups of people. My interest in these subjects has also been facilitated by the astounding array of professors that have taught me. The opportunity to listen to lecturers who are so knowledgeable about their fields of study has been a fascinating experience, especially when looking into the extensive research that professors have completed. As my experiences in office hours have shown, displaying interest in a professor’s research projects is an effective method of establishing a relationship with them. One psychology professor I met with during the beginning of this quarter sensed my interest in research from my questions about her projects and proposed that I contact her at the beginning of next year to potentially take on a Research Assistant position in her lab. I have found that my professors genuinely care for students and their success, taking the initiative to connect us with opportunities that can advance our academic or vocational goals.

Even courses outside of the social sciences have been highly impactful for me, such as the challenging yet thought-provoking Humanities Core program. Humanities Core incorporates aspects of literature, philosophy, history, film studies, and several other disciplines to examine the course theme of Animals, People, and Power. Humanities Core is distinct not only in its interdisciplinary approach, but also in the intellectually stimulating questions it poses to its students. The curriculum urges us to shift our perceptions of the relationships between humans and animals in such a profound way that it has even motivated some students to alter their diets or consumption patterns to be more environmentally conscious. I believe that the most powerful college courses are the ones that inspire students to change their own lives in response to the material learned, and Humanities Core exemplifies this notion. 

Although I decided not to further pursue writing academically, I still sought to incorporate it into my extracurricular activities at UCI. This led me to the U/U Zot Blog, which I have thoroughly enjoyed being involved in during my first year here. It is vital to reflect on new experiences, particularly ones that entail as much change as college does, and I am grateful that the Zot Blog has given me the opportunity to do so. Thus, this last blog post of the year serves as bittersweet closure for me. I hope that future Zot Bloggers will also recognize the value of self-reflection and entertain themselves through their Zot Blog writing. Thank you for following me on the journey of my first year in college and I wish you all the best of luck in your future endeavors!

Your friendly neighborhood Unaffiliated major,

Sabrina

A key contributor to the welcoming atmosphere of UCI’s Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC) is its advisors’ willingness to foster a tight-knit community through their wholehearted support of students’ academic and personal journeys. Jordy Cardenas, a first-generation college student and UCI alum, epitomizes a CHC advisor who accomplishes this goal. I had the pleasure of interviewing her about her career path and the valuable advice she has for college students.

Even from our first advising meeting during winter quarter, I recognized that Jordy embodies all of the characteristics of an effective advisor. She is intrinsically motivated to replicate the safe space that she was offered by her advisors during her undergraduate years at UCI. This accepting environment allowed her to establish UCI as her home, its students and faculty her newfound family. As I interviewed her, I was inspired by her desire to make every student she interacts with feel as though they belong and contribute to UCI. During advising sessions, Jordy prioritizes the human before the student, ensuring that the advisee is healthy mentally before discussing their academic life. This degree of care is crucial to making students feel safe and welcome in the advising space. The prioritization of mental health in her approach to advising was framed by her work in a mental health clinic, where she helped people diagnosed with depression and anxiety. 

Jordy’s career choice is the perfect situation of “paying it forward.” I strive to follow her example in my future career by choosing a fulfilling job that betters the communities that have positively impacted my own life. However, Jordy’s career path was not linear. She initially wanted to pursue a position as a corporate lawyer at Disneyland. She made detailed plans to attend UCI’s School of Law, but she ultimately realized that locking herself into a specific career closed off opportunities that were better suited for her. After graduating from UCI with a Bachelor’s in Criminology, she recognized that it would be more fulfilling to serve the higher education system, resulting in her graduation from San Diego State University with a Master’s in Education. It is vital that college students give themselves the opportunity to embrace their curiosity and, in Jordy’s insightful words, “find passion and joy even in unexpected places.” She emphasized that students should not feel pressured to have all the answers about their major or career intuitively; rather, they should give themselves the freedom to explore their interests and discover a door that might lead to an entirely different path than they originally imagined. 

I speak from experience when I say that Jordy’s warm and welcoming character translates to her hugs. She is the exemplary candidate for the unofficial title that I have given her – UCI’s “hugger-in-chief” – adopting the term from how Michelle Obama, one of Jordy’s role models, has referred to herself as. Jordy is an invaluable addition to the UCI family, and I am grateful that the CHC has given me the chance to connect with her.

Your friendly neighborhood Unaffiliated major,

Sabrina

The numerous unique spots on UCI campus embody our school’s individuality and intrigue. Here are three that I visited today:

The Science Library is one of the largest science-related libraries in the nation, home to several on-campus programs such as the Campuswide Honors Collegium (CHC), Undergraduate Research Opportunities Program (UROP), and Scholarship Opportunities Program (SOP). This location is a perfect quiet spot to study between classes!

The Jao Family Sculpture Garden, located in Aldrich Park, depicts important Chinese historical figures like statesman Qu Yuan and philosopher Lao Zi. If you are curious about Chinese culture and would like to learn more about the sculpted figures, I would recommend visiting this artistic display of cultural appreciation.

The Maya Lin Water Table was designed by architect Maya Lin, who won the design competition for the Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, D.C. The reflection of the trees in the water is a beautiful sight, certainly fitting as the centerpiece of the Arts Plaza.

Despite my lack of photography skills (you’ll have to excuse the poor lighting and camera angles), I had fun navigating my way around UCI and finding only a few of its many unique locations. I encourage you to wander our beautiful campus when you feel the urge to take a break from a sedentary studying session. Enjoy what UCI has to offer!

Your friendly neighborhood Unaffiliated major,
Sabrina

With the majority of classes transitioning from online to in-person during Spring quarter, I believe that it is important to consider the advantages and disadvantages of the two learning settings. My class schedule during the past couple of quarters has primarily consisted of online or asynchronous learning. This may or may not be an unpopular opinion, but I enjoy online/asynchronous classes because they often rely on self-paced learning. I prefer being able to control the speed at which I learn and complete assignments in asynchronous classes, although I understand that many students do not hold the same viewpoint. I acknowledge that social interaction is highly limited in online/asynchronous settings, which can be considered one of the main drawbacks of these types of classes. After all, fostering connections with peers and building social networks is a core aspect of the college experience.

Because of this, I look forward to continuing to attend in-person classes over the course of the new quarter. It is far easier to create meaningful connections with other people when you are face-to-face rather than speaking to a computer screen during an online class. Furthermore, many students may be able to pay attention for longer periods of time when in person, as distractions can be more tempting when working online or asynchronously. However, in-person classes may be more inconvenient for students with long commutes. Furthermore, students may prefer to complete work in their own environment rather than the classroom. I am included in this population; I find that I am more comfortable and productive in my own quiet, private space than a public one.

So, weigh the pros and cons for a moment and consider your own opinion: do you prefer in-person or online classes? Why might that be? What additional advantages and disadvantages can you think of for either in-person or online classes?

Your friendly neighborhood Undeclared major,

Sabrina