Amanda Ceballos

Name:  Amanda Ceballos

College: College Ten

Department:  Feminist Studies and Theater Arts

What Award/ Scholarship did you receive?  Sabrina Greenfield Memorial Award

What year do you expect to graduate?  Spring 2020

Where do you call home?  San Leandro, California

With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out?  I was immediately drawn in by how lovely the campus smells due to all of the redwood trees. It is such a peaceful location to study in. I also did a lot of research on the Theater Arts program, as that is what I’ve always planned to study, and was impressed by the scope of classes and opportunities that the Theater Arts department provides.

What is your field of focus?  I am a Theater Arts and Feminist Studies major who’s focus is uplifting voices and experiences of people of color in the U.S. and in Latin America.

What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz?  I hope to continue writing plays, poetry and prose and hopefully be able to produce my own work someday

What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here?  I will always cherish the opportunities I received from Rainbow Theater as well as the UCSC Barn Theater to direct shows- independent theater spaces on campus have always encouraged me to express my creative talents, like when I was blessed with the opportunity to adapt Sandra Cisneros’ short story “Woman Hollering Creek” into a play. I also was able to direct my show and was honored to have such a dedicated and talented cast of Latinx actors to bring Cisneros’ wonderful and truthful work to life.

What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz?  Everyone always told me to take advantage of any clubs, groups, events, etc. that the university offers and I have to say I regret not taking this advice sooner. Get involved in groups that center your passions and interests (for me, these were activities like Rainbow’s multicultural theater group, Movimiento Estudiantil Chicanx de Aztlan, and many of the plays that the Theater Arts department puts on). I have found so much community in these spaces and only wish I had gotten involved sooner. There are many cultural and identity based resource centers that personally have helped me thrive as a woman of color in academia. Also, this university is constantly inviting teachers, artists, and activists (and folks who encompass all of the above) to give talks on their research, work, or performances on a plethora of different topics. If something interests you, try to attend as many of those events as you can- I know it's easy to get caught up in school work and feel like you don’t have the time, but if you’re able to carve out an hour or two to share space with these amazing individuals, it will expand your perspective and be so worth it. I would always leave refreshed and even more inspired to dig deeper into my own studies and wish I had prioritized these types of events and extracurriculars more.

How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research?  My mother raised my sister and me by herself for the majority of our lives and is a proud single mother. This scholarship has taken a huge burden off of her shoulders when it comes to paying for school and for this we are extremely grateful.