I knew people who already went here, so that's how I first found out. I chose to come here because I liked the people I knew who went here. I also wanted to get to know some place else better since I'm from San Francisco and know the Bay Area really well, but to also just take advantage of the opportunities here and get a great education.
How did you spend your summer?
I played a lot of basketball. I visited New York for a week. I also worked cleaning windows in people's homes. It was really interesting cleaning windows since I went into people's homes; you get to see their lives through their homes and the pictures and things inside it.
Who do you look to for inspiration?
My parents. My mom is a single mom with three kids. She's always been a person I look up to. She's such a great person and goes through a lot. My father's come a long way. He's from Guyana and came to the U.S. when he was 18 with only $32. He's come a long way from those times.
What's your favorite type of music?
Hip-hop, R&B. I appreciate anything with a beat that sounds nice. There's so much music within hip-hop that consumes most of my time. I would listen to others if I had more time, but hip-hop is definitely my favorite.
Do you enjoy living in Stearns?
Stearns is cool. It's really nice but I'm also worried about it because it's a bit too nice. I used to have a beat-up car and I would drive around not having to worry about it. If we had a party here we would have dorm damage that we would have to pay for for the rest of our lives. The way the dorm has a curved hall makes it hard to see other people, unlike Plaza where I hang out a lot, which has just a single hall and feels like a close-knit group. However, I like how I can go out and be able to come back without expecting a huge party or it being really loud.
What do you like and dislike about Val?
I like how I can get Powerade. The food is not the best and it kind of gives me a stomachache sometimes. I just don't like how I keep eating the same things over again. I'm a picky eater, so it's difficult for me to choose something that I like. I'm used to eating much later, like around 9 [p.m.], so I don't really like how it closes at 7:30.
What do you miss most about home?
My family. Also, the biggest difference is when I go out, I'm used to a different atmosphere. In San Francisco there would be loud music playing and people just dancing. You don't need to have anything to have fun. Here it's kind of different. I haven't really found my niche yet.
What's your most awkward or embarrassing moment?
We had a playoff game in basketball. We were warming up and coming out of the hallway onto the court. As I came out I fell flat on my face in front of everyone. It was pretty embarrassing and people were laughing, but it was kind of funny.
What was your favorite experience during Orientation?
All of Orientation was fun, but my favorite part was finding a group of friends the first day. I met them and thought that we would be friends and have a good time ahead of us.