Name: Daniel Zarchy
Age: 21
Major: Global Economics
Hometown: Albany, CA
UCSC college: College Nine
Favorite class or professor and why?
My favorite classes by far have been the writing workshops associated with City on a Hill Press with Susan Watrous. In those classes, I was able to discover that I have a passion for writing and journalism, and inspired me to continue working for City on a Hill Press. Susan has been an amazing teacher and mentor over the years, and has helped me use my experiences to help teach others.
Most memorable experience at UCSC?
As hard as it is to choose, one of the more memorable experiences came last year, when I was trying to get some sleep. I was living with four of my close friends that year, and they came back slightly tipsy and ready for adventure, and somehow managed to drag me out of bed. We decided to walk from our house, across the San Lorenzo River, up to campus in time for the sunrise. Four hours later, after more than one detour, we made it to the benches overlooking East Field just in time to see the sun peek over the hills.
Favorite spot on campus and why?
As cliché as it sounds, my favorite spot on campus is the area around the Press Center, where we produced City on a Hill. I spent so many hours there that I have an emotional connection with the place. Last year it became every more perfect, with the Back Perch coffee shop opening next door, and I really didn't ever have any reason to leave. It also has one of the most fantastic views on campus, and nobody knows about it.
How has UCSC shaped you?
UCSC has shaped me a lot, I think, particularly in showing me an interesting group of people. Working as a reporter on a campus as politically active as UCSC was quite an experience, as there was never a shortage of interesting, passionate people working for causes they believed in.
What are your future plans?
My future plans are still a bit murky. I'm going to be studying abroad in Santiago, Chile, until December, but after that I'm not too sure. I anticipate it being a bit hard to find a writing job in this economy, but if I can find one, that might be an option. I'm also very interested in law school and/or journalism school, based on where I get in and what I can afford.
How did you choose your college, and how has your college affected your education?
I chose College Nine because I was very intrigued by the core class, International and Global Perspectives. At the time I was still planning on majoring in politics, and the international and political aspects of the core class appealed to me. I really enjoyed that class, and it set me on a course to keep learning about the developing world. I did not end up majoring in politics, but it encouraged me to join the Global Information Internship Program (GIIP), and I was there for a couple years.
Accomplishments:
In my time at UC Santa Cruz, I tried to participate in as many groups as I could manage with my time available. I was a member of the College Nine Senate as a freshman, and I was the College Nine representative to Core Council. Later, I joined City on a Hill Press in spring quarter of my freshman year as a copy editor and page designer. That quarter, I co-wrote the feature "Toeing the Line" (with Alia Wilson), which won the Katharine M. MacDonald Award for Excellence in Student Journalism. After another quarter as a copy editor, I became a national news reporter, and then world/national desk editor for CHP. I was then managing editor for two quarters and was elected co-editor in chief (with Samantha Thompson) of CHP, a title I held for a year. During that time I was also a fellow for the Global Information Internship Program though I quit after I was elected co-editor-in-chief. I also participated in Alternative Spring Break in Mexico my sophomore year, and I did the UC Center in Sacramento (UCCS) political journalism course this past summer. While there I interned as the Sacramento Bee's first-ever Capitol Bureau intern from UCCS, where I wrote about politics every day. I was also fortunate enough to interview the governor (along with two other, veteran reporters), as well as two gubernatorial candidates and several statewide representatives.
