Campuswide Honors Collegium
Cindy Tayagua-Abarca
Major(s): Psychology
Hometown: Visalia, CA
Extracurriculars
* Research Assistant in the Development of Social Cognition Lab at UCI (2025 – Present)
* Playing violin in Mariachi Orgullo de UCI (2024 – Present)
* Spending time outdoors—whether hiking or going on spontaneous adventures with friends, I love exploring nature and creating lasting memories!
Why do you love UCI?
Aldrich Park is one of my favorite parts of campus—it’s peaceful, full of nature, and helps me feel grounded, especially after a stressful exam. I love how UCI offers so many helpful resources like SOAR, which provides free snacks, breakfast, and scantrons. The RISE Suite and Basic Needs Center have also supported me with community, groceries, and CalFresh help. UCI makes me feel cared for not just as a student, but as a whole person.
How can you be a successful Anteater?
To be a successful Anteater, you have to find a balance between school and everything else going on. It’s easy to get overwhelmed if you focus too much on one and ignore the other. Joining clubs or getting involved can help you grow personally and professionally, but staying on top of your classes has to come first. It’s all about figuring out what works for you and keeping things in check.
What is one fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about me is that I’ve been playing the violin for 11 years! Some of my closest friendships started through Orchestra and Symphony, and I’ve made so many amazing memories along the way.