Academics

Academic Profile

Major: English

            What I love most about my major is getting the opportunity to read and analyze a wide range of literature. There are so many novels, poems, short stories, and literary criticisms that I’ve had the opportunity of reading over the years as a result of taking many different English classes. Many of the works I’ve read have had a tremendous impact on how I perceive the world around me and have improved my critical thinking and analyzing skills. Majoring in English has gifted me opportunities to enter fictional realms, historical events and lifestyles, and reflect on complex theories or concepts like the very creation of words and language as a system of human communication. In essence, I love being an English major because it offers me countless opportunities to expand my knowledge and dabble in completely new works and concepts. 

Current Coursework:

            Currently, I am taking 3 courses: Women and Power in the Ancient World (ANNEA 15), Digital Media Studies (FILMTV51), and University Studies (UNIVST10D). Though I am not taking an English course this quarter, each of these classes requires me to use the same level of critical thinking and analyzing skills as my English courses. Women and Power in the Ancient World is an online course involving lectures and discussions centered on women who acquired some form of social, political, or military power during ancient times. I’ve learned that most, if not all of these women obtained power through royal bloodlines or marriage. In other words, it was very difficult for women to come to power without the aid of a male(s), and even when they did come to rule, they typically ruled alongside males. In the most recent project for this course, we were tasked with choosing a ruler from a region of our choice and picking three artifacts that demonstrate their rise to power, accomplishments, and legacy. I chose Sammu-rammat – a Mesopotamian queen who rose to power by being the daughter of a king, marrying a king, and being a regent to her son while he was too young to take the throne himself. She, like many women during ancient civilization, acquired her power through men but was widely known throughout Mesopotamia as a great ruler who greatly benefitted and stabilized the empire. Additionally, for this project, we were instructed to create an online exhibit and combine our artifacts and summaries with group members. Link to online exhibit: https://womenandpower15.wordpress.com/

            My Digital Media Studies course discusses topics about technology and the media and how it has changed, developed, and influenced society over the years. I am currently in the process of writing a paper on the topic of data surveillance. After learning how much of our data is tracked and recorded it made me wonder if most people are actually aware of the severity of data surveillance. Large corporations utilize this data collected from individuals to create products, advertisements, and much more. The more people utilize the Internet and post online, the more information about their identity is leaked. Most people seem to be primarily concerned about visual records of themselves being tracked and recorded; however, their online data is significantly more exposing. In my paper, I am going to use the television series The Office as a modern example of data surveillance. I am going to use the series to discuss how data surveillance is portrayed, both negatively and even somewhat positively, and how the topic itself is both recognized and ignored by the characters throughout the series. The show is meant to look like a realistic documentary of a paper company, and although it is incredibly comedic with many exaggerated situations/circumstances, it portrays very real perspectives of data surveillance, as well as the fears and normalization of data surveillance.

            Lastly, my University Studies course is centered on teaching transfer students how to succeed at UCLA. The course offers valuable tips and resources that aid students in their goals for academic success. Throughout the course I have learned many valuable tips regarding time management, studying, and maintaining a positive, growth mindset. I’ve also learned about plenty of valuable campus resources, like the career center, counseling center, and writing center. Being educated about these campus resources is incredibly important because they offer unique tools that I could use anytime. In addition to tips and resources, I’ve also written several reflections about my academic success, skills, and interests that have definitely helped motivate me in my coursework and begin the process of thinking and prepping for my future. One of my favorite assignments from this course was creating a quarterly time grid where I mapped out all the assignments that were due for my courses this quarter. I love being able to organize information and create charts, so this time grid was incredibly fun to make, and being able to keep track of when my assignments are due has definitely helped me plan and manage my time more efficiently.