with Kaya Mark '18
Staff Writer

From: San Diego, CA
Major: Cellular-Molecular Neuroscience

What are some of your interests?

I like watching travel shows and cooking challenges, I love to bake, play tennis, I’ve been skiing since I was three years old, and I’ve been very involved in programs that help kids with disabilities since I was in high school.  

What is the coolest class you’ve taken at Scripps?

Coolest class had to be my Core 3 with Susan Rankaitis. I rarely watch films so this class was a marvelous opportunity to expand my film horizon! The best part was the mini film viewing that the class had to present at the end of the semester. Even though only two audience members showed up, I thought that our discussion session at the end for Her was epic and super deep.  

What extra curricular activities are you involved in on campus?

Right now I’m working at Scripps AV, and also I’m part of the Gilman lab!

What did you do in the Gilman lab?

Over the summer at Scripps, I worked in the Gilman lab with a super cool lab team (shout out to Stephanie, Rachel and Noah!). Rachel and Noah were working on separate projects. Stephanie and I were working on how varying temperatures in the air during low tide affects barnacle respiration during their recovery period during high tide. That was kind of a difficult project because we weren’t able to get all the aerial chambers to work 100%. It’s an ongoing process that will hopefully be worked on in the future! And for those who do not know what a barnacle is, it’s those little rocks that stick to the sides of whales and are shaped like volcanos. 

Favorite study spot?  

The Motley when there are tables open.  

What’s been your weirdest experience while at Scripps?  

During my first year at Scripps, it was super rainy and windy one day and there was this bird laying on the ground, probably stunned from running into something, in front of the Froutt entrance. I made a little exit hole in a shoebox, filled it with toilet paper, sprinkled some cereal inside, and stuck the bird in the box. When I came back from dinner, the bird was gone. So I would like to think that I helped save the bird, although it could’ve easily just walked five feet and died in a nearby bush...

What is your favorite dorm?  

I stayed in Clark over the summer and I had the biggest room with personal AC. So Clark.

What is your long-term goal in life?  

I don’t really have a long-term goal. Probably to travel to every continent. Except Antarctica, because I don’t really have an urge to go there.