Celia Alcantara
College affiliation: College Nine
Department: Anthropology
What Award/ Scholarship did you receive? Dr. Midori Arima Scholarship in Anthropology
When do you expect to graduate? I expect to graduate Spring 2024. However, I would like very much to complete all my requirements by end of winter quarter 2024 exceeding my expectations and begin contributing what academia has afforded to the community
Where do you call home? I’m very fortunate that I can call Montara, a small rural coastal community home for now.
With all of the choices for college, what made UC Santa Cruz stand out? Culture and community, combined with incredible standings of successful graduation ratios and a highly recognized anthropology program the choice was made simple. I’d like to add that a beautiful campus with a prominent lean towards stewardship of the environment and respect for its Indigenous heritage gave UCSC an additional edge based on a personal commitment to environment justice.
What is your field of focus? Socio- Cultural Anthropology – focusing on environmental conflict and human migration.
What do you hope to do once you graduate from UC Santa Cruz? Consult/work with agencies focused on social and cultural diversification in regions most impacted by conflict, resource scarcity, migration, and trauma that effects women and children’s resettlement.
What is one memorable moment that stands out for you as a student here? The most stand out moment/s for me at UCSC are the Professors. I am star struck, as well admire greatly, the personal experiences the teaching staff has brought to course instruction. It’s a grand thing to have very well-educated educators, but to have educators with the amount of field experience, life experience and graduate level education that has now been afforded me, has been without doubt memorable. Given the opportunity to learn from primary resources, those that have “walked the talked” such as, Prof. Renya Ramirez, Darcey Evans, or Dr. Emily Schach, has been nothing less than exceptional.
What is your one piece of advice for incoming students about life at UC Santa Cruz? University is a learning environment, learning means, it’s not yet known, it’s okay to ASK if you don’t know, don’t understand, or are concerned (anxious) it’s not clear… it’s true there really are no stupid questions. Use “anxiety” not as a message of doom, rather of a message for tracking. If anxiety is triggered, ask yourself, “am I procrastinating?” “do I understand the assignment?” and finally “what am I afraid of?”
How will this scholarship impact your academic life /research? With an opportunity for an unpaid research internship, this scholarship is one I am most appreciative. These funds will assist with cost associated with transportation and supply’s associated with performing data task. I would like to take this opportunity to thank the Dr. Midori Arima Scholarship in Anthropology for granting this scholarship to me. I understand the privilege extended with an appreciation for the number of applicants and the honor of being a recipient. The funds will be used to fulfill the mission and goals set for a future that improves life circumstances for many from the studies learned at UCSC.
