Rubalcava, Amanda

     Hi everyone! My name is Amanda Rubalcava and this is my first quarter at UCLA. I am currently majoring in Communication Studies and am hoping to minor in Film, Television and Digital Media. Before moving to Los Angeles for school, I lived in San Diego, California. My academic interests include learning about media, culture, and society. My personal interests revolve around anything active and outdoors, whether that be kayaking, hiking, or just hanging out at the beach with friends.
    I am a junior year transfer and have attended four different schools in the past three years. While that might sound strange and hectic, it was a great learning experience. I began my freshman year at New York University where I studied Media, Culture, and Communication. While I quickly learned that I strayed a little too far from the West (and best) coast, I am definitely appreciative of that year. My love for my major grew and made me even more confident of pursuing an academic career with an emphasis on Communication. After coming back home for my sophomore year of college, I attended three different community colleges in San Diego. I spent summer studying at Southwestern College and then finished the year studying within the San Diego Community College District. After earning enough credits, I was able to receive my Associate’s degree in Social and Behavioral Sciences.
    My interest in this course mainly stems from my identity as a Chicana. I feel it is important for me to become educated on art that pertains to my personal life. Also, I am interested in learning about the messages of female and cultural empowerment within Chicana art. In regards to the Virgin of Guadalupe, her image was very prominent growing up. As a Catholic, I would see her figure in churches and in homes. Since my family practices Catholicism, I often was taught to remember to pray to “Mother Mary”. On important days of celebration, we even got together to place flowers on the large Virgin statue at my grandmother’s home.