My word to describe Oxy: Worldly

Hometown: Torrance, CA
Majors: Diplomacy & World Affairs and French

"Occidental is situated in a unique and diverse community. The school's access to the resources of Los Angeles—from museums to political hubs—allows students to apply what they learn in the classroom to 'the real world.' A class in marine biology provided me with the unique opportunity to explore coastal communities, and 'learning by doing.' There were various excursions that helped me understand the material covered in class. The one that resonates the most is the boat trip my class took to collect marine organisms by netting."

"I'm doing research with Professor Reddy through the department's Young Grant. I am studying the relationship between France and Senegal with an emphasis on a discussion of identity for both nations. In preparation for the research paper, we are reading different theorists that discuss the construction of identity by the state and its implications. This is another aspect that makes Oxy unique and a great place to study. Not only does the school have passionate and intelligent professors, but we're able to build close relationships through research opportunities. The amount of students that conduct non–science research at Oxy is impressive. It's great to attend a school where every major is taken seriously and given the same opportunities."