Senior Spotlight: February 2011
Samantha Masunaga
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In Spring 2011, English major Samantha Masunaga from Chino Hills, California was initiated into Mortar Board for her superior scholastic ability, outstanding and continual leadership, and dedicated service to the community. Sam was elected to be Co-Chair of the Calendar Committee, and to represent Mortar Board on the UCLA campus through the selling of the Agathai Chapter's popular student daily planners. The Calendar Committee is gearing up to produce next year's calendar, and has an awesome contest going on now for the design of the front cover! Outside of Mortar Board, Sam is involved in Yukai Daiko and the Daily Bruin. She enjoys reading and writing and she's always on the lookout for the next great adventure! Please continue reading as we turn the spotlight on Sam! |
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Describe your personality in three words:
Happy, optimistic and random
What is your best quality? Give an experience when you have put this quality to use.
I think my best quality is my perseverance. This became apparent last summer when I applied to more than a dozen internships at newspapers and television broadcast stations across Southern California and received polite rejection letters or no responses from all of them. At first, I was crushed because I thought it meant that I wasn’t really cut out for journalism. But after hearing about another internship opportunity at an online women’s health publication, I decided to give it a shot. It ended up being one of the best internships I could have found, and the editors became my mentors.
What are your interests?
In my spare time, I love to read, write and play Japanese taiko drums with my UCLA group, Yukai Daiko. I’m also trying to learn how to crochet and cook. Those are both works in progress.
What do you like about UCLA?
I love the diversity that comes with a large campus community. Coming from a small high school with a graduating class of 138, the thousands of different people at UCLA have opened my eyes to new viewpoints, types of culture and especially food. I am so grateful that I was able to come here and experience this small microcosm of the world and I know that I have been changed for it.
What is one thing you would like to change at UCLA?
I would like to change the level of school spirit on campus. When I applied to UCLA, I was enchanted by the stories of great sports teams and crazy fans that went to all the home games and cheered on the Bruins through thick and thin. Four years later, the games are still fun, but the school spirit is a bit lacking. Though our football and basketball teams have come upon some hard times, it’s a little disheartening to see the lack of student attendance at games, especially those of the women’s teams.
What has been your biggest learning experience?
My biggest learning experience was when I was named captain of my high school’s varsity basketball team. Though I was never really assertive, I was suddenly pushed into a position of leadership and I had to manage conflicting personalities, practice logistics and team meetings. However, that year was one of the most formative of my life, as I learned to take charge and become more confident in my leadership skills.
Name two movies you could watch over and over again? Why?
I could definitely watch Beauty and the Beast and Midnight in Paris over and over again. Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite movie since I was five, and Belle was one of my favorite Disney princesses because of her love of books and her spunky attitude. I’ve found another favorite in Midnight in Paris, which also appeals to my love of books. This movie has made me want to study more American literature, especially pre-WWII, so that I can learn more about Hemingway, Fitzgerald and the other writers portrayed in the film!
What is your favorite book and why?
As an English major, it’s really difficult for me to choose a favorite book since I have so many! For pleasure reading, I love the Harry Potter series because of its combination of magic and classical/literary allusions. For class, I loved Never Let Me Go because of its message of carpe diem, something that I often overlook. And for a new perspective on living, I suggest Tuesdays with Morrie.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Jane Austen, mostly because I’m writing my senior honors thesis on feminism in her books! She is an amazing woman and I wish that I could just ask her opinion on major issues of her time rather than trying to uncover them through the irony and subtlety in her novels!
If you could go anywhere in the world for a day where would you go and why?
I would go to Italy because it’s my dream travel destination! I am fascinated by Rome and the Italian countryside and it is one of my life’s goals to be able to vacation there!
What career would you like to pursue after graduation? Why?
After graduation, I plan to become a journalist because I want to serve the public and elucidate truth through my writing. Ideally, I would love to work at a print newspaper like the Los Angeles Times, but based on the shift toward online media, I would be willing to work at a web publication as well.
What characteristics does it take to become a great leader?
I think a great leader needs to have the typical characteristics of confidence and assertiveness, but they also need to be compassionate, understanding and flexible. These final traits will push a mediocre leader into one that is effective and memorable.
Name one person you admire? Why?
I really admire my junior high basketball coach, Pauline Jimenez or Coach J, because of her strength, perseverance and humor in the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis. Though she passed away four years ago, she fought her cancer all the way until the end and continued to coach youth sports teams until she was too ill to do so. Whenever I feel like I am overwhelmed or too afraid to take risks, I think of Coach J and her passion for life.
Who has been your most influential professor and why?
My most influential professor is my thesis adviser, Professor Anne Mellor. Coming into college, I was not a fan of Romantic literature and was reluctant to take a course on later Romantic poetry and texts. However, Professor Mellor’s class changed that and she made me think about new ways to interpret some of my old favorites, such as Jane Austen’s novels.
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
I love Veronica Mars, from the show of the same name. For those who have never seen this fantastic show, Veronica is a high-school (and later college) aged detective who uses her smarts and her expert sleuthing skills to solve crimes. Veronica is smart, confident and a little edgy and when I was in high school, I wanted to be just like her. Unfortunately, the show is now cancelled.
What are the three most played songs on your iPod?
Lights by Ellie Goulding, For the First Time by The Script and You Found Me by The Fray
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be and why?
I would like to be a gazelle because they are so graceful — unlike myself.
Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so, where?
I have been to Greece, Japan, England and France. I would love to go back to all of these countries again, sometime soon!
What is the funniest prank played by you or on you?
The best prank I have ever played on a friend was when my roommates and I would hide a poster of Paranormal Activity 3 around our apartment for the others to find. Toward the end, one of my roommates and I hid the poster in our other roommate’s shower. She didn’t notice it for quite some time, but we figured it out when she started yelling in surprise!
What does being a member of Mortar Board mean to you?
Being a member of Mortar Board means that you value leadership and service and are willing to sacrifice your own time to help others. It has been so great to work with so many caring, dedicated and fun Mortar Boarders and I am so glad that I was able to join this group!
Happy, optimistic and random
What is your best quality? Give an experience when you have put this quality to use.
I think my best quality is my perseverance. This became apparent last summer when I applied to more than a dozen internships at newspapers and television broadcast stations across Southern California and received polite rejection letters or no responses from all of them. At first, I was crushed because I thought it meant that I wasn’t really cut out for journalism. But after hearing about another internship opportunity at an online women’s health publication, I decided to give it a shot. It ended up being one of the best internships I could have found, and the editors became my mentors.
What are your interests?
In my spare time, I love to read, write and play Japanese taiko drums with my UCLA group, Yukai Daiko. I’m also trying to learn how to crochet and cook. Those are both works in progress.
What do you like about UCLA?
I love the diversity that comes with a large campus community. Coming from a small high school with a graduating class of 138, the thousands of different people at UCLA have opened my eyes to new viewpoints, types of culture and especially food. I am so grateful that I was able to come here and experience this small microcosm of the world and I know that I have been changed for it.
What is one thing you would like to change at UCLA?
I would like to change the level of school spirit on campus. When I applied to UCLA, I was enchanted by the stories of great sports teams and crazy fans that went to all the home games and cheered on the Bruins through thick and thin. Four years later, the games are still fun, but the school spirit is a bit lacking. Though our football and basketball teams have come upon some hard times, it’s a little disheartening to see the lack of student attendance at games, especially those of the women’s teams.
What has been your biggest learning experience?
My biggest learning experience was when I was named captain of my high school’s varsity basketball team. Though I was never really assertive, I was suddenly pushed into a position of leadership and I had to manage conflicting personalities, practice logistics and team meetings. However, that year was one of the most formative of my life, as I learned to take charge and become more confident in my leadership skills.
Name two movies you could watch over and over again? Why?
I could definitely watch Beauty and the Beast and Midnight in Paris over and over again. Beauty and the Beast has been my favorite movie since I was five, and Belle was one of my favorite Disney princesses because of her love of books and her spunky attitude. I’ve found another favorite in Midnight in Paris, which also appeals to my love of books. This movie has made me want to study more American literature, especially pre-WWII, so that I can learn more about Hemingway, Fitzgerald and the other writers portrayed in the film!
What is your favorite book and why?
As an English major, it’s really difficult for me to choose a favorite book since I have so many! For pleasure reading, I love the Harry Potter series because of its combination of magic and classical/literary allusions. For class, I loved Never Let Me Go because of its message of carpe diem, something that I often overlook. And for a new perspective on living, I suggest Tuesdays with Morrie.
If you could meet anyone in history who would it be and why?
I would love to meet Jane Austen, mostly because I’m writing my senior honors thesis on feminism in her books! She is an amazing woman and I wish that I could just ask her opinion on major issues of her time rather than trying to uncover them through the irony and subtlety in her novels!
If you could go anywhere in the world for a day where would you go and why?
I would go to Italy because it’s my dream travel destination! I am fascinated by Rome and the Italian countryside and it is one of my life’s goals to be able to vacation there!
What career would you like to pursue after graduation? Why?
After graduation, I plan to become a journalist because I want to serve the public and elucidate truth through my writing. Ideally, I would love to work at a print newspaper like the Los Angeles Times, but based on the shift toward online media, I would be willing to work at a web publication as well.
What characteristics does it take to become a great leader?
I think a great leader needs to have the typical characteristics of confidence and assertiveness, but they also need to be compassionate, understanding and flexible. These final traits will push a mediocre leader into one that is effective and memorable.
Name one person you admire? Why?
I really admire my junior high basketball coach, Pauline Jimenez or Coach J, because of her strength, perseverance and humor in the face of a terminal cancer diagnosis. Though she passed away four years ago, she fought her cancer all the way until the end and continued to coach youth sports teams until she was too ill to do so. Whenever I feel like I am overwhelmed or too afraid to take risks, I think of Coach J and her passion for life.
Who has been your most influential professor and why?
My most influential professor is my thesis adviser, Professor Anne Mellor. Coming into college, I was not a fan of Romantic literature and was reluctant to take a course on later Romantic poetry and texts. However, Professor Mellor’s class changed that and she made me think about new ways to interpret some of my old favorites, such as Jane Austen’s novels.
Which is the one television character that you simply adore?
I love Veronica Mars, from the show of the same name. For those who have never seen this fantastic show, Veronica is a high-school (and later college) aged detective who uses her smarts and her expert sleuthing skills to solve crimes. Veronica is smart, confident and a little edgy and when I was in high school, I wanted to be just like her. Unfortunately, the show is now cancelled.
What are the three most played songs on your iPod?
Lights by Ellie Goulding, For the First Time by The Script and You Found Me by The Fray
If given a choice, which animal would you want to be and why?
I would like to be a gazelle because they are so graceful — unlike myself.
Have you traveled outside of the United States? If so, where?
I have been to Greece, Japan, England and France. I would love to go back to all of these countries again, sometime soon!
What is the funniest prank played by you or on you?
The best prank I have ever played on a friend was when my roommates and I would hide a poster of Paranormal Activity 3 around our apartment for the others to find. Toward the end, one of my roommates and I hid the poster in our other roommate’s shower. She didn’t notice it for quite some time, but we figured it out when she started yelling in surprise!
What does being a member of Mortar Board mean to you?
Being a member of Mortar Board means that you value leadership and service and are willing to sacrifice your own time to help others. It has been so great to work with so many caring, dedicated and fun Mortar Boarders and I am so glad that I was able to join this group!
