School of Social Sciences
Gerry Villegas
Major(s): Psychology
Hometown: Chula Vista, CA
Extracurriculars
* Peer Health Educators (2023-2024)
* Sleep and Cognition Lab Research Assistant (2023-2024)
* Sierra Curriculum Coordinator (2022-2023)
Why do you love UCI?
I love UCI because of its diverse and inclusive community. As I continue to interact more and more with individuals here on campus, I have learned to enjoy the atmosphere and the demeanor projected by others that allow me to feel as if I could truly be myself. With the variety of the different backgrounds, belief systems, and personalities the inhabitants of the university contain, it is freeing to interact with so many students and faculty who only want the best for you. This overall sense of encouragement and support allows me to embrace my passions and take the steps necessary to develop into my academic and professional goals.
How can you be a successful Anteater?
I believe the road to being a successful Anteater is paved by enjoying the journey that awaits and that is ongoing. “Life is a journey, not a destination” is a cliche for good reason in that it can be easy to fall into the impatience that exists amongst the hardships of schooling to reach that finish line of what we think will eventually make us happy. Of course, this is easier said than done, but I argue that it is attainable by the means of various measures. I believe that to achieve success as an Anteater, it is necessary to put your mental health first, develop a sense of belonging by joining clubs or organizations on campus, become familiar with the amazing resources UCI has to offer, and of course seek passion in what you choose to study.
What is one fun fact about yourself?
A fun fact about me is that I collect horror novels, short stories, comics, and manga. I plan to have a library filled with horror pieces by the time I am a settled adult. Since this is an accumulative-based expedition, and honestly fairly new, my excitement upon purchasing gothic fiction to contemporary eerie literature persists and engulfs me with content. Though this hobby can be quite niche, I am always happy to share these artifacts of my interests with those around me.
