Maria Zamarripa-President of Sponsorships and Outreach
" Poetry can make you cry while you're writing it and it can make others cry while you're reading it. And the same thing goes for every other emotion in the book. I love that about poetry. You can't really make people understand how you feel, but you can still make them feel"
Maria Esperanza Zamarripa is a third-year Psychology major and Film and Television minor. Coming from North East Los Angeles, Maria has a great appreciation of the Hispanic/Latinx culture. She has a family bond that cannot be broken and is at her happiest when she is surrounded by her loved ones. When it was finally time to go away from home, Maria was excited but heartbroken. She was culture-shocked and homesick. This was a crucial time in her life where poetry came into play. Eventually, Maria learned to make the best of her situation and found families right here in Westwood. She loves sharing her culture and learning about other traditions through cuisine, art, and etc.
She has always been engrossed by different creative mediums and made an effort to pursue them in any way she could. Whether it was visual art, music, filmmaking, graphic design, or the literary arts, she strived to surround herself with outlets to express her creativity. Her love and appreciation of poetry started at a young age, but she always feared to perform them live! She was unsure if others would be able to relate to her longing to experience childhood again or her anxiety of being brave enough to face reality. However, after sharing her work with others, she realized that her experiences, though they may be intense, are not unique. She felt a sense of security knowing she wasn't experiencing these emotions alone.
Maria has been involved with the organization, "Colleges Against Cancer," for three years and has served as the Marketing Chair for two years. This organization is one that is close to her heart, as her efforts to raise funds for cancer research is inspired by her younger brother who is a cancer survivor. On top of that, Maria also works at UCLA's Central Ticket Office. On her free time, Maria enjoys attending concerts ranging from Harry Styles to Metallica! Additionally, Maria is practicing her graphic design skills which are proven to be great as SLAM uniVERSE has received many compliments regarding our logo. Thanks Maria!