Place of Origin: Singapore
Major: Environmental Science and Management
Minor: Technology Management
Year: 3rd
Languages: English, Mandarin (elementary)

About Me: I was born in Switzerland but grew up in Tokyo, Japan and Singapore. I love dancing, traveling, listening to music, learning about new countries and cultures, as well as drinking excessive amounts of coffee! In my free time I enjoy going to cafes, thrifting, reading on the quad and taking walks through the Arboretum.

Fun Fact: My mother is Japanese-American and my father is Swiss-Austrian.

Goals: I hope to pursue research or environmental consulting in the future. In also hope to get to know all of you and to positively contribute to the Global Ambassador Mentorship Program community!

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! I'm so excited to meet you all and to help you in any way I can. Being so far away from home can be difficult, but we hope to make the process easier and more comfortable for all of you. The Davis community is extremely welcoming and friendly, so I hope your transition here goes smoothly and don't be afraid to reach out for help!

Place of Origin: Guangzhou, China
Major: Biological Sciences 
Minor: Classical Civilization
Year: 3rd
Languages: English, Mandarin 

About Me: I was born and raised in China, and came to UC Davis when I was 17. I love cooking, exploring new restaurants, and try recreating dishes I liked. I also love traveling, either with my family, friends, or on my own, getting to immerse myself in the local culture and lifestyle is my favorite part of traveling. 

Fun Fact: I love learning new languages, and I always try to learn some local phrases when I'm traveling to new places. 

Goals: My short-term goal is to keep exercising, stay healthy. My long-term goal is to meet new people, explore new opportunity, and hopefully figure out what I wanted to do after graduating from college. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome new Aggies! I know it might be challenging at first, but this is also why we're here, to help you! Don't be afraid to reach out for help, and trust me, you'll love Davis. 

Place of Origin: India
Major: Biological Sciences 
Year: 3rd
Languages: English

About Me: I was born in India and was predominantly raised in the USA. When I am not busy with college, you can find me crocheting, reading, gardening, or listening to music. I always enjoy it when someone recommends new music or books, so feel free to share some of your favorites with me. 

Fun Fact: A fun hobby of mine is crocheting, so you will likely see me working on a new project or gifting out mini crochet projects.

Goals: In regards to my career, I hope to gain some internship and research experience to better understand my area of study and the many jobs that accompany it. Additionally, for my short-term goals, I hope to find volunteering opportunities at hospitals, fundraisers, events, etc. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Congratulations and welcome to Davis! You've all worked incredibly hard to get here, and the global mentors couldn't be prouder of your achievements. We hope to make your experience in Davis fun and enlightening. So please feel free to reach out as we want you to have the best experience possible! 

Place of Origin: India
Major: Systems and Synthetic Biology 
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, French, Hindi

About Me: I'm Hiya Bhandari from Mumbai. I love playing cricket and squash, painting, and exploring new places and cuisines. My favorite cuisine is Indo-Chinese. I enjoy watching sitcoms and medical dramas like Grey's Anatomy and The Resident. Though I'm a homebody and introverted, I love exploring new places and things, even if it's on my own. 

Fun Fact: My name means "heart," and I have lived in over four countries and visited fifteen. I have an unusual obsession with Kellogg's Special K Red Berries Breakfast Cereal (milk before cereal ftw).

Goals: My short-term goals include surviving organic chemistry and pursuing work at the intersection of statistics and biology, possibly in epidemiology. In the long term, I want to explore all the famous treks in California before I graduate.

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to our vibrant and diverse community! Make use of all the resources available to you, from academic support to social clubs and cultural events. Be patient and plan out all the things you want to do, taking the time to immerse yourself in new experiences. Observe, learn, and enjoy every moment of your journey here. Remember, you're not alone—don't hesitate to ask for help when you need it. We're all here to support each other, and we're excited to have you with us!

Place of Origin: Guatemala
Major: Civil Engineering
Minor: Global Studies and Languages
Year: 2nd
Languages: Mam, Spanish, English, Italian, and Korean (elementary)

About Me: I was born in Guatemala and came to the United States as a teenager. I am optimistic, curious, creative, empathetic, responsible, organized, and eager to learn and understand different cultural perspectives. Some of my favorite hobbies are traveling, learning languages, reading, photography, listening to music of all genres, watching TV shows and movies on Netflix, and hanging out with friends.

Fun Fact: I like to eat very spicy food during my stressful days, and I am a butterfly lover.

Goals: My short-term goal is to provide comprehensive guidance and support to my mentees, helping them overcome cultural adjustments and academic challenges. In the long term, I want to leverage my training and experiences to society's needs and promote sustainable development, while mentoring and advocating for future first-generation students pursuing careers in STEM. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Congratulations and welcome to UC Davis! Immerse yourself in a vibrant and diverse community where every interaction is an opportunity to learn and grow. You bring unique perspectives and experiences that enrich our campus culture, so share your voice and make lasting connections. Here you will find not only classrooms, but also communities eager to embrace and celebrate your diversity and contributions. We look forward to making this journey together and supporting each other along the way - welcome aboard!

Place of Origin: Russia
Major: Psychology
Minor: Food and Nutrition 
Year: 2nd
Languages: Russian, English, French (beginner)

About Me: I was born and raised in Kazan, Russia, moved to Dubai when I was 17 and finished high school there. I hope to attend Stanford one day. I love singing, dancing, playing sports, cars and very cute puppies. I am outgoing, cheerful, and fun. I am extremely excited to be a mentor and help incoming students to feel at home at UC Davis. I would love to learn about different cultures and share my own. 

Fun Fact: I have a list of 12 Boba places around Davis, ranked from best to worst. I can give you general info, a review and best drink for each of them. 

Goals: My short-term goal is getting a car in the U.S. and drive around the state and visit all the car shows that California can offer! Next, is getting into Stanford! It's only a matter of time! Long-term, I want to be a couples psychologist or mentor. I want to get a Ph.D. in neuropsychology and open neuropsychological clinics all over the world, especially in Russia and UAE. My relatives have kids with severe speech and development problems, and neuropsychology is not developed well enough to provide necessary treatment, and available treatment is too expensive for the general public to afford. 

Message to Incoming International Students: I know how tough it is to move alone to a foreign country, adjust to a new language different, make friends from scratch, live in an environment completely different from what you are used to. I didn't have a mentor, who could guide me. However, you have me and all of the other mentors. We have experience, made mistakes and learned from them. We are here to help make your stay at UC Davis less stressful and more pleasant, in order for you to start making good memories right from the start! We'd love to meet you as soon as possible!

Place of Origin: Singapore
Major: Biological Sciences 
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, Mandarin (basic)

About Me: I was born in Singapore, but I have lived in the U.S.A. for the majority of my life. During my free time, I love painting, sewing, reading, and listening to music! I also tend to waste my money on matcha, boba, and small cute decorations. A few things I enjoy doing here at Davis are walking downtown, relaxing on a picnic blanket, and going to farmers markets, so please reach out if you want to join me!

Fun Fact: I can bend my thumb all the way down to touch my arm. 

Goals: My short-term goals are to work at a student-run clinic here at UC Davis and get more experience in the healthcare field. My long-term goal is to become a physician assistant.

Message to Incoming International Students: I am so happy that you chose UC Davis!! Although you might feel overwhelmed or confused in the beginning of your time here, I am confident that you will receive all the help you will need to succeed. Just remember to stay present in the moment and have fun! 

Place of Origin: Costa Rica
Major: Psychology and Economics
Minor: Technology Management
Year: 3rd
Languages: English, Spanish, and Hindi

About Me: Hi everyone, I'm Raaina! I was born in India, but I grew up in Costa Rica and am now an international student at UC Davis. I am an energetic and outgoing person who loves to try new things. I love playing sports, traveling, spending time with my family and friends, trying new cuisines, and watching sunsets. I can't wait to meet everyone and make new friends!

Fun Fact: I have skydived!

Goals: As a Global Ambassador, I hope to be the best mentor I can be and make lots of meaningful connections with everyone in the program. In terms of long-term career goals, I am still figuring out what exactly I want to do but I hope to go into the business field and eventually, own a business. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! Even though it is a small town, it has its own charm and is truly a hidden gem! Take your time to navigate this campus full of opportunities, amazing people, activities, and connections. You already have a friend here, and know that we all have your back! I promise that it will all work out and I wish you the best!

Place of Origin: China
Major: Biochemistry and molecular biology 
Year: 2nd
Languages: Chinese (Mandarin), English

About Me: I am a really easygoing person who like doing sports and study. After the training, I feel that I am a person who is aware of school resources and dependable. I am a person who has time management and is self-disciplined. I will be conscientious and responsible in my work but friendly in my daily life.

Fun Fact: I like to eat chicken feet and duck heads.

Goals: My short-term goal is to finish up every course nicely, work out regularly, and take lab research or an internship about biochemistry in my second year. My long-term goals are to get a body I'm happy with, have fantastic academic results, and make a good career. And to stay in touch with friends and have an awesome relationship with my lover for a long time.

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! We have a wide variety of clubs, internships, research opportunities, and so much more. There's definitely going to be something for you. Don't mind the smell of cows at Davis; we're proud of our zoology and agronomy. You're also welcome to join the Global Learning program, which is your own organization. Davis will definitely be a great school for you to grow in all areas.

Place of Origin: South Korea
Major: Spanish
Minor: Education
Year: 4th
Languages: English, Korean, Spanish, French (elementary)

About Me: I was born in South Korea, but my family and I moved to Mexico when I was five months old. After living there for seventeen years, I went back to Korea to finish high school. Now, I'm here at UC Davis, seizing every moment! I love playing volleyball, doing arts and crafts, and making new connections.

Fun Fact: I have a nail technician certificate. 

Goals: In the short term, I aim to be a friendly and approachable global mentor, ensuring that you feel supported and at ease as you navigate college life. In the long term, I hope we can maintain and deepen our connection!

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! Many of you may feel anxious and worried about living by yourselves in a country far from home, but I'm confident that Davis will soon feel like your second home. Meeting new people, engaging in college life, and learning new things will help you settle in and feel like you belong. I look forward to meeting you all and I hope you have a wonderful experience here!

Place of Origin: India
Major: Animal Biology 
Year: 2nd
Languages: English , Hindi , Gujarati

About Me: I am a bibliophile, and my favorite genre is fantasy, but I am also trying to explore other genres. I have a passion for music, dancing, art, craft, and photography. Additionally, I enjoy playing table tennis, pickleball, and badminton. 

Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I have three years of training in Indian classical music. 

Goals: My goal is to complete as many hours as I can to gain animal experience and be successfully accepted into UC Davis Veterinary Medicine in the first cycle. I aim to become a successful doctor and help animals in need.

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome, international students! As someone who has walked in your shoes, I am excited to offer my support as you embark on this exciting journey. Adjusting to life in a new country can be exhilarating and daunting due to cultural differences and academic expectations. However, rest assured that you are not alone. We are all in this together, and there is a vibrant community of international students here to support you every step of the way. 

Place of Origin: Indonesia
Major: Cognitive Science
Year: 2nd
Languages: Bahasa Indonesia, English, French (Beginner), Hakka, Hokkian, Japanese (Conversational), Mandarin (Intermediate)

About Me: Hailing from Medan, Indonesia! I am an international student who loves to make connections with new people. I am the awardee of the Indonesia Maju Scholarship for studying higher education abroad, and I am also serving as the president to represent all of the 2nd batch of awardees. I am also a hardcore Model UNer, and I have participated in over 20 conferences since late 2021. During my free time, you could find me playing badminton, watching movies, or hanging out with my friends outside.

Fun Fact: I can whistle to any song.

Goals: My short-term goal would simply be to have the best time here in the States and experience the culture as much as I can before coming back to Indonesia. My long-term goals would be working my way to work in a neurotechnology company or do research in a related field. Another side goal I am still pursuing as my hobby is learning more languages.

Message to Incoming International Students: Hello new Aggies! Welcome to UC Davis. I know it should be exciting for you, but please save some of the energy until you get here - as more fun is yet to come. Leaving your family/community and settling into a totally different place may be hard, but do not worry because you can always contact them any time and we are here to support you! I cannot wait to see you here at the campus and I hope you can create some core memories along your journey.

Place of Origin: United States
Major: Science and Technology Studies
Minor: Human Rights
Year: 3rd
Languages: English, Spanish, Hindi

About Me: I love to explore the intersections between science and the humanities, especially regarding data collection and usage. In my free time, I enjoy writing poetry and science fiction, playing my guitar and cello, reading books of all genres, and being out in nature.

Fun Fact: I once owned a slightly crazy horse who liked to barge through fences.

Goals: I hope to expand my interdisciplinary knowledge and work toward creating more equitable policies in the U.S. and perhaps beyond. Additionally, I hope to apply the core value of empathy in future practices and encourage others to do so as well. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! While the campus may seem incredibly spread out and a tad inaccessible, it contains many hidden gems that you may grow to consider as your "safe spaces" or hang-out/study zones. With proper guidance and moral support, you are sure to conquer each quarter with ease!

Place of Origin: Macau
Major: Economics 
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, Cantonese, Mandarin 

About Me: I am a foodie and love to try new delicacies and cuisine from all over the world. I also enjoy exploring new things and meeting new people so I am exited to meet my future mentee. 

Fun Fact: I am really good at playing world map and country flags game. 

Goals: My short-term goal is to keep my GPA up. And my long-term goal is to learn a new language to increase my competitiveness. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome international Aggies! You have made the right decision to choose this school. Here, we have incredible resources for you to utilize and a beautiful campus for you to explore with your new buddies! We are excited to have you join our community and hope you will enjoy your first college experience at UC Davis. Go Aggies! 

Place of Origin: Hong Kong 
Major: Neurobiology, Physiology, and Behavior
Minor: Quantitative Biology and Bioinformatics
Year: 2nd
Languages: Cantonese and English

About Me: I grew up in Hong Kong and went to the US to study abroad for high school. In my free time, I enjoy listening to music, playing the violin, watching shows, and spending quality time with friends. I am an active listener and love to listen to people's needs and help them out. 

Fun Fact: I have a cat and pet fish at home. 

Goals: My short term goals are to maintain my grades. stay active in my clubs, and do something about my boba addiction. My long term goals are to get involved in labs and internships to step foot into the medical research industry. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Congratulations and welcome to UC Davis! I'm excited to be meeting and getting to know all of you guys and feel free to reach out for any help. 

Place of Origin: Philippines
Major: Chemical Engineering
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, Tagalog

About Me: I am from the Philippines and moved here to study engineering. I like hanging out with friends and sharing our hobbies with each other, such as dance, music, and art. I am passionate about mentorship, as I am also a Community Youth Development Coordinator in the Student Recruitment and Retention Center.  

Fun Fact: I love strawberry matcha! 

Goals: I want to be an engineer in the healthcare industry, specifically an emphasis in immunology. Someday, I want to establish my own company that develops accessible medical technology and improves the healthcare landscape as a whole. 

Message to Incoming International Students: People are nicer than you think they are! It will be tough, but you are so brave and strong for pursuing your goals away from home! Remember to ask for help, ask that friend you've been wanting to hang out with, attend that club social, or try out new hobbies. There are so many exciting things to do and people to meet here in Davis! 

Place of Origin: United States
Major: Sustainable Environmental Design 
Year: 4th
Languages: English

About Me: I am a transfer student here at UC Davis, so I've been adjusting to the UC life for about a year now. As I navigate this new transition in my academic career, I've realized I find a lot of emotional comfort in being active. I engage in various physical activities, such as badminton, spikeball, lifting weights, dancing or running. In addition, I am also a sucker for reality TV shows, so I tend to watch those in my free time. Overall, I consider myself a person down for pretty much anything!

Fun Fact: I've been skydiving before! It was about a 13,000 foot fall, which made for 60 seconds of free fall. 

Goals: One current goal I have is to travel as much as I can while I am young. Other than that, my life goal is to always be pursuing what fulfills me and makes me happy, no matter what stage of life I am in. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Congratulations on making it to UC Davis! You deserve to be here. No matter what you may endure during your academic journey, just know that you will always have a support system on campus to fall back on. I can assure you that everyone at this university wants to see you succeed! You are gonna kick some college butt. 

Place of Origin: India
Major: Cognitive Science 
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, Hindi, Mandarin, Tamil

About Me: I am a generally extroverted person that loves meeting new people! I was born in India but grew up in the US and China. In my free time I like to read, listen to music, spend time with friends, and play with my dog. I also enjoy working out and engaging in other physical activities like hiking, parasailing, paragliding, zip lining, etc.

Fun Fact: I have a golden retriever named Chutni (he was named after the Indian spread chutney)!

Goals: One of my short-term goals is to excel in my college classes (both major-related and general education classes). One of my long-term goals is to get a job related to cognitive science, psychology, or neuroscience in the future. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! This is an exciting new time of your life and I hope to support you in any way that I can to make this transition as easy as possible. I look forward to getting to know you better and wish you all the best for your college journey ahead! Please do not hesitate to reach out whenever you need help or just want a friend to hang out/study with! 

Place of Origin: Japan
Major: Sociology
Year: 2nd
Languages: Japanese and English

About Me: I'm originally from Tokyo, Japan, but I have also lived in Switzerland, New Zealand and Arizona in the US. I love dancing Hip-Hop and I was in MK Modern, a competitive Hip-Hop dance team here at UC Davis (hopefully I get in this year again...) I LOVE finding the best cafe and hangout with my friends. I am caffeine addict and coffee and Celsius are my friends during exam week.

Fun Fact: I am scared of cats.

Goals: My short term goal is to get good grades in my classes. My long term goal is to graduate college with good grades and with lifelong friendships and hopefully get a professional career in the US.

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! As I was the one last year, coming to new country could be exciting and scared at the same time, but we will support you as best as we can for you to succeed and be comfortable here. I am so excited to meet each one of you.

Place of Origin: India
Major: Aerospace Science and Engineering  
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, Hindi, Gujarati 

About Me: I am an aerospace engineering student who is crazy about pretty much anything that goes fast. I love to spend my time with my friends and stay outdoors. Yet sometimes I like to stay in when I have a ton of work to do. I am also passionate about staying fit and sports like Cricket and Formula 1. I am also huge on movies!

Fun Fact: One fun fact about me is that I can watch any Tom Cruise movie and never get bored. Whether it's the Mission: Impossible series,  the dramatic Jerry Maguire or the thriller 'Edge of Tomorrow, I'm always down for a Tom Cruise film marathon!

Goals: My short term goals include maintaining a standard of academic performance while also not forgetting to enjoy my time here. In the long term, I would like to pursue my dream of joining flight school and becoming a pilot or get a job in Formula 1 as an engineer.

Message to Incoming International Students: Hi Aggies! I am so glad you said yes to Davis. I'm very excited to assist you in your transition to USA. I promise you that your experience of starting your journey at UC Davis will be extremely fun with GAMP, and if you're anxious about packing your life into a suitcase and moving to a whole new country, don't worry because we have got your back. Once again, welcome to UC Davis!

Place of Origin: India
Major: International Relations
Year: 2nd
Languages: Punjabi, Hindi, English, Urdu (elementary), Spanish (elementary)

About Me: I'm from Punjab, India, but I moved to the US when I was 13. I am an International Relations major, and I plan on focusing on the peace and security track. I like reading and learning about different cultures. I like keeping up with what's happening in the world and learning about history. I love to do movie nights and spend time hanging out with my friends and family. 

Fun Fact: I've attended 8 different schools over the years! The longest I have been in one school was 4 years.

Goals: My long term goal is to pursue my master's in International Relations. Through the Global Ambassador Mentorship Program, I want to support my mentees in transitioning to the new environment while also meeting new people and learning about different cultures.

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome to UC Davis! I'm thrilled to meet each and every one of you. Transitioning to a new country can be daunting, but we're here to support you every step of the way and make Davis feel like home. Davis is a friendly campus and has supportive network and we're committed to ensuring that you feel at home here at Davis!

Place of Origin: India
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology
Year: 2nd
Languages: Hindi, Punjabi and English

About Me: I grew up in Punjab, India and immigrated to the United States in 2019. Something that I do in my free time is watch science videos, talk to my friends and cook good food! Other than this, I love going out with my friends only when I am free tho (which is never lol XD).

Fun Fact: I love chemistry, and I am working to be good at it! Other than this I learned Indian classical music for five years in India!

Goals: My short term goals are to keep getting straight As every quarter hehe. My long term goal would be to pursue a profession in a health related field. 

Message to Incoming International Students: Congratulations and welcome to Davis! You've all worked incredibly hard to get here, and the global mentors couldn't be prouder of your achievements. We hope to make your experience in Davis fun and enlightening. So please feel free to reach out as we want you to have the best experience possible! 

Place of Origin: United States
Major: English and International Relations 
Minor: German
Year: 2nd
Languages: English, German (intermediate), French (Beginner) 

About Me: I’m a huge movie and TV nerd, and probably spend way too much time in front of the screen. I love reading, writing, and painting as well! I spend as much time as I can with my dogs, and love to go out with my friends and make them laugh! I’m from the Bay Area, and I love to drive into the city or to Capitola and spend a day out there! 

Fun Fact: A fun fact about me is that I am currently writing a book! 

Goals: My short term goals is to join more clubs here at UCD, and meet more people on campus! My long term goals are to graduate, take the LSAT, and hopefully get accepted into law school! I also want to travel the world at some point!

Message to Incoming International Students: Welcome! Everyone at Davis is so happy to have you here with us! I know it can be scaring, walking into a new environment, but I have no doubt that you will find your groove here at UCD! Can’t wait to meet you all!  

Place of Origin: China
Major: Biochemistry and Molecular Biology 
Year: 2nd
Languages: Mandarin and English

About Me: When writing about this, I am still a first-year student about to enter his second year. I chose biochem as my major because of my passion for life science. I like to schedule some time to speak with people. I enjoy playing badminton and tennis but am too lazy to watch the games. My friend told me I have good taste in Chinese food, so I will try to apply those theories to cooking. 

Fun Fact: My place of origin once belonged to another adjacent province in China due to concerns about wars. My grandfather and my father love talking about local history, economy, food, etc. So, I know a lot about the southern part of Guangxi and the southern part of Guangdong now. 

Goals: My short-term goal is to understand biochemistry and get into a lab for laboratory skills. Besides that, I want to find the feeling of playing tennis and badminton. My long-term goal is to find the specific field of research or career I want to pursue.

Message to Incoming International Students: Congratulations, you are an Aggie! Davis is an excellent place to learn, enjoy, and explore. Do you have any concerns or just want to talk? We've got you!