Hi everyone, I’m Justin! I am a second year majoring in Cognitive Science (ML) and Pure Math. I was born in Cleveland, Ohio but mainly raised in San Diego. My favorite book in the HUM sequence is Aristophanes’ Clouds because it was kind of a meme.
Here’s what the coronavirus looks like on the cellular level:
Hey all, I’m Dat Ta. I’m a computer science major, I like everything computer and technology related. On my spare time I like to play video games, mainly Minecraft and Starcraft. I have a small small small collection of just 50 HotWheels still in their packaging, hung up on the wall. My favorite books in the HUM sequence is between the Aeneid and Njal Saga, reading is not something I enjoy doing. However I very much enjoy reading these 2 titles. I guess it because their journey through life is very different from our; I may even say that it’s basically impossible to have such life, in today’s time, without being considered a maniac. Yet these people are heroic. It’s much easier to appreciate the past than the present.
“I wish there was a way to know you’re in the good old days before you’ve actually left them” – Andy Bernard (The Office)
This is my favorite song https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dQw4w9WgXcQ .
However my all time favorite is
Queen – Don’t Stop Me Now
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgzGwKwLmgM and
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1k8craCGpgs
KONO DIO DA. My name is Michael Lee, and I am a second-year human bio major. I was born and raised up in San Francisco. In my free time, I enjoy lifting and weights and playing video games (Persona 5 is still my favorite game). Additionally, I probably watch too much anime (ZA WARUDO). My favorite HUM book has to be Machiavelli’s “Prince,” as I found his ideas to be very realistic/plausible. Because I’ve been playing too much Metal Gear, here is my song of choice.
My name is Kristen! I am a second year Biochemistry major. I really really enjoy chemistry and I want to work in drug development after graduation. I was born and raised in south Orange County, California, so San Diego is not far from home for me! I work at a book/stationery store in downtown La Jolla, so it is only natural that some of my hobbies include reading and journaling.
My favorite readings of the HUM series were the Old Testament readings during HUM1. I thought learning about the history of religion and the parallels between Old Testament stories and other ancient stories. I have also enjoyed reading Candide so far as well!
Attached is a pretty picture I took a couple summers ago in Hawaii!
My name is Nikolaos Koltsidas (Niko to make it easier). I am a second year Cognitive Science major specializing in Interaction and Design. I also plan to minor in Business. I was born and raised in San Diego and commute everyday from Chula Vista. You can also find me working as a barista at your local Tapioca Express. I have a healthy obsession over cars and love everything about them, especially modifying them. Some of my hobbies include working on cars, photography, and collecting shoes. I’m also trying to get into vlogging and YouTube so that’s soon to come.
For my favorite book in the HUM sequence, I’d have to go with The Essays by Michel de Montaigne. I found his essays to be interesting to me as he literally writes about and questions everything. Montaigne also seems to rant on and on about a subject while getting sidetracked and then bringing himself back to his main topic. I feel like his essays are in a pure and relatable form of how humans think.
Hi guys, I’m Lauren and I’m a second year chemistry major. Some of my interests are cute bird videos, piano and reading fantasy/fiction novels. I included a bird video I thought was cute for my media attachment. A couple of my favorite books are Their Eyes Were Watching God and the Shades of Magic trilogy, and my favorite book from the HUM 3 curriculum is Paradise Lost. I found a lot of the existential questions he brought up in the book really fascinating and relatable. I was raised Catholic and ended up drifting from the religion too, and I think today a lot of people still struggle reconciling an omnipotent and all benevolent deity with so many of the terrible things that happen in the world.
Hey everyone, I’m Erik. I am a second year Computer Engineering major. I was born in Colorado but raised in San Diego County, or to be more specific, Escondido. I have always had a fascination with electronics, and have even tinkered with simple circuits. Apart from this, my other hobbies include, drawing, painting, and playing video games.
It’s hard to pick a favorite book/reading from the HUM sequence, but I think I would have to say Alexander The False Prophet by Lucian. I found it funny when Lucian describes the methods Alexander employed to trick people into believing his prophecies. The extent to which Alexander is able to gather a cult following just by placing a snake in an egg, hatching it in public and proclaiming that a new god is born, is quite humorous.
Hi ! My name is Amelia Sperry. I am a second year General Biology major and I plan on minoring in Psychology. I was born and raised here in San Diego and I didn’t leave San Diego because I love it so much here 🙂 I work part time as a receptionist and I love it because people bring me their dogs to pet. Some of my favorite things are baby sloths, going to the beach, and trying new food places around school with my friends.
My favorite book from the HUM sequence was Shakespeare’s The Tempest. I really enjoyed the story and the multilayered meaning behind what Shakespeare was saying. I was having trouble reading it in “script” format so I ended up watching a production of the play on YouTube. It really helped me understand the material better and I enjoyed seeing the work “come to life.”
Enjoy the picture of the baby sloth at the San Diego Zoo!
Hello 😀
My name is Tim Hong and I’m an Electrical Engineering major. I was born and raised in Orange County here in SoCal and am in my second year at UCSD. I love playing tennis and guitar, as well as enjoying 3 am walks.
My favorite book from the HUM series so far is Discourse on Method and Meditations by Rene Descartes. In his writings, he questions everything, including his own existence…something I do on a daily basis. Eventually, he accepts his place in this thing called existence, something I hope to one day achieve as well.
Hey guys, I’m Alejandra (usually go by Ale) and I’m majoring in economics. I was born here in San Diego but grew up down in Tijuana where I went to school for a good amount of years, later my family and I eventually moved back here. I like to stay active and explore new restaurants in downtown. I also have a pet turtle that my grandma gifted me when I was 5 (the picture below is her now c: ).
Shakespeare’s King Lear has been my favorite book in the hum sequence so far because the suspense of the story made it enjoyable to read and it was easy to follow along.
Hi guys! My name is Stephanie Mejia and I’m a third-year majoring in Clinical Psychology and minoring in Law and Society. I’m from Fresno, CA a city that many people don’t know about. I usually just say that I’m from Central California near Bakersfield and that I’m like an hour away from Yosemite National Park. I enjoy listening to music, hanging out with friends, trying new foods, and binge-watching shows.
My favorite book throughout the HUM series is Civilization & Its Discontents by Sigmund Freud. I found Freud’s arguments and perspectives on the clash between individuality and society’s expectations very interesting.
I love listening to a variety of artists, they can either be mainstream or underrated. This particular artist has been at the top of my music playlist so I hope you enjoy!
My name is Nicholas, I’m a 2nd year EE major. I commute to UCSD from Rancho Bernardo and have lived in San Diego my whole life. Some of my hobbies include volleyball, ultimate frisbee, disc golf, and aquariums. In the Hum sequence, my favorite book was The Aeneid, simply because I found it the most entertaining to read.
Attached below is my current favorite song, Dance Monkey.
Hi! My name is Ben and I am a 4th year Math/Econ major. I am from the SF Bay Area and decided to come to UCSD because I was hoping for a more beach-oriented lifestyle, though to what extent this has actually happened is up for debate. At this point, I’m trying to wrap up my undergraduate studies so I can apply for grad school.
My favorite book that we’ve read in Humanities so far is probably The Prince (or the Bible, even though I am not a Christian). I like the nuanced focus on individual success and even though I might not necessarily agree with every truth presented or personally identify with the specific royalty-centric narrative/character described, I feel like there’s a lot to learn in terms of what it takes to come out of a difficult situation intact.
This is one of my favorite songs right now:
Hello, everyone. My name is Salvador Franco, just call me Sal though, it’ll make easier for all of us. I’m just another STEM major at UCSD if you’re interested, specifically I’m a sophomore, microbiology major whose area of focus in immunology. I come from the local LA county gas stop city known as Azusa, no seriously I have never met anyone in Azusa who isn’t a local and if they aren’t their just here for gas before heading back to the 210. I guess my hobbies would include reading scientific articles on any subject really, playing video games: I enjoy platformers and indie titles the most in recent years. One of my personal favorite series recently that I played was the Nonary games, an escape room based game with pseudo-science thrown in the mix.
Personally, my favorite title that I had to read in the Humanities series is The Aeneid. What made this a personal favorite of mine was the ending. Throughout the epic, Virgil builds Aeneas’ character as the perfect personification of the Roman idealism that Virgil wanted to see within Present-day Rome, well I guess ancient by our standards. Yet at the end despite his lack of emotion throughout the poem Aeneas in a fit of anger for his fallen comrade murders Turnus in a dishonorable manner. This loss of control of his emotions symbolizes Virgil’s critique of the current emperor Augustus to be unfit to lead Rome to prosperity due to allowing his emotions specifically vengeance to get the best of him.
Here’s a song from the soundtrack from the first game in Nonary Game series
Hello everyone!! My name is Fermin. I am a second year Human Bio major from Escondido which is approximately 30-40 minutes north from campus depending on how fast a driver you are. I enjoy soccer (or any friendly competition), reading good books and playing video games with groups of friends. I was always on the quite side growing up despite having 7 siblings that were completely erratic. Although, now I enjoy socializing and competing in friendly sports with anybody.
My favorite book so far would have to be Candide because of how random each adventure/struggle became in every page. I really do appreciate the humor and philosophy that Voltaire discussed with each character and their experiences.
Hi! My name is Jinghan Cao and I’d like to go by Jing. I was born in China. I’m a second year Cognitive Science major specialized in machine learning. I like music and movies, and I love to travel.
My favorite book in the Hum sequence so far would have to be Montaigne’s essays. Montaigne’s essay brings up the idea of introspection and it really makes people think. I also like the Odyssey a lot, it was the first book I read in the Hum sequence and the story is really engaging.
One of my favorite song recently is Khai Dreams’ summer friend. Hope you enjoy it!https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-CFrXHRQ8Sw
Hello! My name is Danielle and I am a biochemistry major. I was born and raised in SD, only about 30 min south of UCSD. I love animals and have chickens, dogs, cats and fish! I practically live on a little farm! I’m also a huge mystery buff. That’s actually kind of what inspired my interest in biochemistry, as forensic science plays a huge role in solving crimes! I hope to one day help solve mysteries like the greats!
My favorite book in the Hum series was definitely The Lais of Marie de France. I liked this book for a myriad of reasons. For one, it was one of the only female authors we got to read the world of. I realize. O realize for the time periods we studied there were a limited number of female authors to select from, but it would have been awesome to include a few more. I loved how these Lais were so engaging. They were funny, sad, romantic, empowering and do much more that made them an easy read. Most Hum books I struggle to get through, but for this one I read more then we even had to! It’s definitely one of the most interesting books I got to read in Hum.
Hi! My name is Emma Palmer. I’m a second year Ecology, Behavior & Evolution major but I’m also picking up a Marine Bio double major this quarter. My interests include marine parasites, books, video games, and drawing.
My favorite book so far in the HUM sequence would have to be Shakespeare’s Tempest. I’ve grown up reading Shakespeare and the Tempest has always been one of my favorites (second only to The Merchant of Venice). I love the themes in the play and the imagery used through out.
I mostly listen to instrumental music or movie soundtracks. Hope you enjoy it!
Hello everyone! My name is Cheng-Yu Chiang, but please call me Ben. I am a second-year Electrical Engineering major. I enjoy music, fitness, sports, video games, etc. My favorite book in HUM so far is probably Niccolo Machiavelli’s The Prince or Thomas More’s Utopia because of their political influence and ideas. Link to my personal website
Here’s a great song for you if you want something different to listen to. It reminds me of home 😉
Hi everyone, my name is Rosie. (I’m your TA :)) I am a PhD student in the music department, which is a little misleading because the work I do aligns more with the work done in communications or American Studies departments. My interests include critical theory, techno, and wellness culture. My MA thesis was on this crazy phenomenon Daybreaker! Has anyone heard of it? Comment if so :o)
My favorite author so far was definitely Montaigne. I found his essays relatable and insightful; I think it was the most relatable read for me thus far in the HUM sequence. I particularly liked Montaigne’s essay on death. It was also refreshing to read a critique of European imperialism and oppression of indigenous people, after all of the other non-critical texts we’ve read thus far (the Greek’s obsession with “barbarians” comes to mind).
I mentioned that I like techno. One of my favorite artists is Detroit- based Omar S. Enjoy!