Hi there! My name is Tessa and I am a 20 year old undergraduate student who transferred from LA Pierce Community College to UCLA to earn a B.S. in Physics. I am a first generation Ukrainian-Jewish American and identify as a pansexual woman. I am an emancipated minor and have been living on my own and supporting myself for the entirety of my college career, and will need to continue to do so. By moving out I was able to create an environment conducive to learning, leading me to earn 6 AA degrees across various disciplines and graduating with various honors. At UCLA I have continued to uphold high academic honor as well as take on additional leadership positions as President of the Sigma Pi Sigma Honors Society and Secretary and Treasurer of the Women+ in Physical Sciences organization. I am determined to continue my education and earn a Ph.D. in Physics from UCLA. Through this I hope to be a shining example of a woman that, despite many forces working against her, was able to graduate from a top University earning the highest degree in a male dominated field. A little about me as a person: I love to travel, meet new people, and try different cuisines! I am a huge advocate for individuals of all backgrounds and have made it my personal mission to spread love in all communities. Animals have always been a big part of my life so I am a fur-mom to a sweet tuxedo kitty. My long term goal is to become a professor and an emergency foster parent to be a positive influence to and save children from situations like mine.