This week I got the chance to chat with Helen Zapata, a third year English major and Civic Engagement and Food Studies minor.
Her Campus: What’s your favorite part about being a student at UCLA?
Helen Zapata: My favorite part about being a UCLA student is being a part of such a diverse student body. While walking up Bruin Walk can sometimes be annoying, I like seeing how passionate people are about their clubs. I’m always astonished by the amount of clubs we have and I don’t think I’ve ever seen the same flyer twice!
HC: How did you get involved with Her Campus?
HZ: Like most incoming Freshmen, I was always searching for the best things to do at UCLA! One day I stumbled upon the Her Campus website and really liked how candid the articles were. I’ve always loved exploring L.A. and I thought it’d be fun to join HC to share my love for both UCLA and Los Angeles. I applied towards the end of my first year and look forward to staying with the HC team until I graduate. Â
HC: What other extracurriculars do you do at UCLA?
HZ: One of my favorite things to do is drag my friends around Los Angeles to visit museums. So when I heard that the Hammer Museum needed a student educator, I applied right away! I’ve given a lot of tours there, from UCLA students to first graders. (Fun Fact: the sculpture garden on campus is a actually part of the Hammer Museum!) I’m also on the board for UCLA’s first ever Student Food Co-Op, through which we provide fresh produce for students who may have difficulty accessing groceries otherwise.
HC: What’s your favorite class taken at UCLA?
HZ:Â Over the Summer I took Food Studies 170SL. It was incredible. As a Service Learning course, we were required to volunteer with an organization based in LA that engages in food justice. I chose Kindred Spirits Care Farm and spent the summer pulling weeds, spraying spider mites with soapy water, and feeding alpacas bananas. Although the work was hard, it was so satisfying to think of all the good that would come from our hard work!
HC: If you had to only shop from one store for the rest of your life, what would it be and why?
HZ: This is such a difficult question! If we’re strictly speaking fashion, I’d choose Urban Outfitters Surplus! It’s the store where Urban Outfitters sends all it’s out of season clothes — I love shopping there, I feel like such a smart shopper.