Name: Shiara Zarate
Major: Marine biology
Classification: Junior
Graduation date: Spring 2024
Home country: Cúcuta, Colombia
Extracurricular activities: I like going to the gym. So, [I] like exercising, playing volleyball, dancing [and] hanging out with my friends. I’m also in the Hospitality and Tourism [Management Student] Club here [in] the university. And I like volunteering. … I started volunteering for a class last semester and just kind of kept doing it sometimes. And I work here at the university at the Center for Student Involvement.”
What are the differences between your hometown and the United States? “There are a lot of differences, but I would say, like, the main one or, like, the one that I noticed the most, was the food and how people treat you, like, how you interact with people.”
What is on your bucket list? “I would love to go to Hawaii and then do parachuting.”
Who is your role model? “My dad. He’s … the most genuine and kind person I know. He’s also very smart and funny.”
Why did you choose the major you are in? “I’ve always been very interested in the ocean and, like, sciences overall. … Marine biology … it’s about the whole ecosystem. And how everything works on Earth. Like, all the processes and everything. So, it’s really fun and interesting to learn about that. And you’re always learning something new. It’s always, like, linear, because you can learn about the animals, the plants [and] everything.”
What movies or shows do you like? “I’m a big TV girl. So I watch a lot of movies and shows. … I like movies like ‘Divergent,’ ‘Insurgent,’ [all] of those. I love ‘The Hunger Games,’ too. In series, I like ‘Grey’s Anatomy.’”
What advice would you give other international students? “Honestly, I would say not to be afraid. Because I know that … it’s difficult to be out there or, like, be alone in a country you don’t know or, like, in a language that you don’t really know very well. And sometimes you’re even scared to, like, speak in class or, like, socialize with people and small things like that, you know. But once you realize that you have nothing to be afraid of, everything goes so easy.”
–Compiled by Fatima Gamez Lopez
