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Catarina Gerges

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Finalist

General information

Hobbies & Interests

  • Girl Scouts
  • Concerts
  • Hiking And Backpacking
  • Camping
  • Reading
  • Movies And Film
  • Journaling

Reading

  • Science Fiction
  • The Human Brain
  • Romance

I read books multiple times a month.

Bio

Hello, Catarina here :) I have proudly earned a B.S. in Neuroscience and a B.A. in Disability Studies from UCLA, making me one of the first graduates in the University of California (UC) System to achieve the latter. My 3-year UCLA journey culminated in being awarded the distinction of Senior of the Year for the Graduating Class of 2024 and serving as the Neuroscience Commencement Speaker. Now, I am looking ahead to UC Berkeley School of Law where I will launch my education and career as a legal advocate.

Education

University of California-Los Angeles

Bachelor's degree program

2021 – 2024

Majors:
  • Multi/Interdisciplinary Studies, Other
  • Neurobiology and Neurosciences

Tesoro High

High School

2017 – 2021

Miscellaneous

Desired degree level:
Doctoral degree program (PhD, MD, JD, etc.)
Majors of interest:
Neuroscience
Medical school interest:
No

Career

  • Technical Project Coordinator | Integrate technology into the litigation process of cases (e.g. Los Angeles Fires Lawsuit) in order to progress clients’ claims as accurately and efficiently as possible, ultimately in pursuit of timely justice.

    Law Practice · Gibbs Mura, A Law Group

    Jan 2025 – Present

  • Short Film: “Bringing Visibility to Disability Justice” ● Wrote, produced, edited, and screened an original 10-minute short film exploring disability justice.

    Motion Pictures and Film · UCLA

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Featured Panelist

    Higher Education · UCLA's Humanities, Social Sciences, and Disability Studies Majors Panel

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Senior of the Year | Selected as one of 50 honorees from a graduating class of 15,000+

    Higher Education · UCLA

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • UCLA Commencement Speaker - Class of 2024

    Higher Education · UCLA Neuroscience Department

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Accessibility Engineer

    Technology · UCLA Office of Advanced Research Computing

    Jan 2024 – Jan 2024

  • Lead Resident Assistant

    Human Resources · UCLA Residential Life

    Jan 2022 – Jan 2024

  • Director of Programming

    Events Services · UCLA's On-Campus Housing Council's Executive Board

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2022

  • Cashier/Team Member

    Food & Beverages · Baskin-Robbins

    Jan 2021 – Jan 2021

  • Work closely with students, construct applicable study schedules, establish an individualized set of goals, & instill solid study habits. Assist with homework, projects, & test preparations.

    Tutor · Independent

    Jan 2016 – Present

  • Cashier/Cook

    Restaurants · 5 Loaves Restaurant

    Jan 2020 – Jan 2021

Miscellaneous

Dream career field:
Law Practice
Dream career goals:
Environmental protection and sound agricultural regulations
Has nursing license:
No

Future Interests

  • Advocacy
  • Politics
  • Volunteering
  • Philanthropy
  • Entrepreneurship
Sloane Stephens Doc & Glo Scholarship
First, I ponder. Then, I plan. Next, I peruse. Afterwards, I prepare. Finally, I present. What is this mystery task? Gift giving. It is how I express my love for friends and family. One would be surprised at how extensive my gift giving process is; however, it is well worth the joy it evokes in the recipient. One night, my friend Bella chipped her front tooth in an intense game of Pool Keep Away. Witnessing her distress, I knew I must take action to alleviate her anxiousness. This led to the conceptualization of a themed gift dubbed the “I know the veneers won't be noticeable!" care package. Paying attention to everything from the minute to the gargantuan details of her life assisted me in determining what elements would make up the perfect care package. After the ponder stage was complete, I moved to stages two and three: plan and peruse. Each item would comfort her either emotionally or physically: a get well soon card, a velvety soft blanket, a slice of Cheesecake Factory Oreo Cheesecake, and some Colgate Whitening Strips (for a chuckle). Next, I meticulously acquired each element of the gift. In stage four, I prepared the Bella-specific items in the gift basket. Finally, it was time for my favorite stage: the presentation. I rushed over to Bella’s house and eagerly awaited for her to answer the door. A bright (one toothed) smile greeted me, then a bear hug engulfed me, and laughter erupted as she spotted the Colgate Whitening Strips. A faint warmth remained around us as the emotions settled. She invited me in to scarf down the Oreo Cheesecake, an irrefutable offer, and I accepted. In that moment, the fact she was missing one tooth did not matter in the slightest. We were content. That moment -the moment where everything falls marvelously into place- is what makes gift giving well worth it. Despite the lengthy gift giving process, ingenuitively expressing my love and care for friends and family through this method has always been my exultation. Essentially, it is my belief that being caring, creative, and considerate is the ultimate trifecta; these three qualities can and will get me anywhere in life. A significant mile marker on my extensive life journey, after finishing my Bachelors of Science degree in Psychobiology and Neuroscience Minor at UCLA, is achieving my personal desire of becoming a behavioral neurologist. As such, I will utilize my 'ultimate trifecta' to care for patients, to think creatively/outside of the box in order to expand medical knowledge in the field, and to always consider those around me (patients, coworkers, etcetera). All in all, these qualities will aid me in all aspects of life: social and professional.
Eleven Scholarship
Prior to my junior year in high school, academic achievement was a virtually effortless task. Shifting from 1 to 5 AP courses changed that. I suffered tremendously. While I knew there would be an initial struggle transitioning, I quickly learned that my unrelenting academic shortcomings were due to my inadequate study habits and reluctance to seek assistance, rather than an overbearing course load. Procrastination and insufficient time management skills played me like a fiddle. Meanwhile, a combination of confrontation anxiety and Imposter Syndrome prevented me from requesting help. My unfounded fear of being perceived as unintelligent was a difficult roadblock to overcome. Omniscience was a notable fragment of my facade. I couldn’t risk losing that title. When first semester concluded, I earned a B in Physics and a B in Calculus BC. My first Bs ever. Although I initially rejected both truths, this wake up call ignited an immanent and indelible desire to improve. By virtue of my struggle in physics and calculus, my study habits changed drastically. I was driven to take thorough notes, pay diligent attention to demonstrations, and correct problems -regardless of innumerable failed attempts. Despite my discomfort of being the only female junior in physics class, I introduced myself to other students and sought their help. I also overcame my confrontation anxiety by attending daily physics tutorials and after school one-on-one calculus tutoring with my teachers. At the pinnacle of my progress, the fiddle music which had succumbed to a subliminable hum crescendoed. The inopportune break from school (due to the COVID-19 pandemic) shattered my AP exam preparation. Determined to succeed, I took the time at home to absorb AP review videos and dissect all previous FRQs… thrice. These adjustments put my newly formed study habits and time management skills to the test. Consequently, I received a 5 on the AP physics exam and a 4 on the AP calculus exam (all the while, undeterred by submission complications and having to persevere through two calculus exams). This extensive voyage of self-revelation and self-improvement (constituting much more time and effort than imaginable) permanently altered my work ethic, instilled self confidence within me, and obliterated my Imposter Syndrome. As a current undergraduate student pursuing a Bachelors of Science Degree in Psychobiology alongside a Neuroscience Minor at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), I make use of these insightful life lessons from my past. Doing so, in conjunction with employing my time management skills, I am able to balance a rigorous academic course load, serve as the Director of Programming on the Executive Board of UCLA's On-Campus Housing Council, visit and teach elementary and middle school students enrolled in underfunded LA County public schools about neuroscience via UCLA's InterAxon club, secure a job as a Resident Assistant for the coming 2022-2023 academic school year, and maintain my 4.00 GPA. If not for the opportunity to encounter, address, and overcome struggle while in high school, I would not be equipped (as I am now) with all of the necessary skills, nor mindset, that college demands.
Prime Mailboxes Women in STEM Scholarship
The enigma that is the human brain. As complex and intertwined as this organ may be, exploring all of its pathways and their functions has become a passion of mine. It all began with a substitute teacher’s auspicious attempt at keeping my Honors Anatomy & Physiology class busy. Catastrophe. We were only twenty short minutes into class when we had extinguished the two-hour lesson plan. Understandably, the unsuspecting substitute teacher scrambled for the first tape she could find, dusted it off, plied it from its plastic covering in one swift “crack,” and slipped it into the archaic VHS player. The gargantuan TV perched on the front lab station sputtered to life. Throughout Phantoms in the Brain, neurologist V.S. Ramachandran discussed his traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and the anomalies which led to unprecedented insight on the human brain. My interest piqued. Shortly thereafter, I noticed a neuron sticker on a friend’s Hydro Flask. A conversation ensued. Hours of stimulating discourse felt like mere minutes as we explored possible explanations for the phantom limb phenomenon: the prospect of mirror neurons or the insufficient uptake of sensory input. To appease my ravenous hunger for knowledge, I plowed through a whirlwind of documentaries, TED Talks, research papers, podcasts, and enrolled in an AP Psychology course. Like a sponge, I absorbed all of the information, but it was not enough. Regardless, I was eager to put the knowledge I had acquired to use. In 2019, I began volunteering weekly at a local rehabilitation center. To improve the emotional recognition, perception, and overall brain function of TBI patients, I had them exercise their prefrontal cortex’s neural pathways by identifying facial expressions in pictures and making social inferences. Paradoxical to this explanation, the physiology behind improvement is barely understood. Just as I discovered when researching the phantom limb phenomenon, there is very little known about an organ capable of so much; I hope to change this by unveiling the many mysteries of the brain. My captivation with the brain stems from a search for answers to the body’s healing mysteries. In retrospect, my initial encounter with Dr. Ramachandran’s unique case studies cultivated a curiosity within me. As I sought more knowledge on the brain, my curiosity blossomed into the desire of becoming a behavioral neurologist. As such, I will delve deeper into complex brain diseases and disorders and use my research to improve the lives of those suffering from them. Furthering my education in Neuroscience/Psychology propels me towards this desire. A degree in Neuroscience/Psychology is a stepping stone to attending medical school and medical school is a stepping stone to becoming a behavioral neurologist. Taking my place in this world as a caretaker begins with this degree. This degree, ultimately, provides me with a myriad of opportunities to give back to society: provide patient care, expand medical knowledge, improve overall mental health, etcetera. The research I conduct on the brain as a behavioral neurologist may allow for astounding medical breakthroughs. For instance, I may be able to treat/even cure TBI-inflicted impairments just as Dr. Ramachandran’s Mirror Box Therapy did for phantom limb pain. Regardless of what I discover, my research will contribute to our understanding of the brain. This understanding will inevitably lead the medical/scientific community to the breakthrough we all so desperately long for: the cure for dementia, how to prevent schizophrenia, etcetera. Whatever role I may play, be it small or large, in improving the lives of those around me is all I hope to accomplish with a degree in Neuroscience/Psychology.
"What Moves You" Scholarship
"Tell me, what is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?" -Mary Oliver This quote is plastered by the door of my AP Literature & Composition class. I see it everyday as I exit. Everyday, Mary Oliver's words certainly string a chord with me. She prompts me to question my intentions for life -each and every day, one day at a time. “What will I get out of today?” is the first thought that comes to mind when I wake up. I intended to have some fun, of course. I intended to feel loved. I also intended to spread love. I decided that the best way to achieve all of the above was to pursue a career in a field which I love and which helps others. As a behavioral neurologist, I will love society in a myriad of ways: provide patient care, expand medical knowledge, improve overall mental health, etcetera. Aside from discovering what career I will soon dedicate myself to, I also adopted a very YOLOesque mindset. I taught myself to make the most out of every moment in life, to view the glass as half full, and to never let an opportunity pass. This has led me to become a very spontaneous soul, an avid cliff jumper, an optimist, and an involved community member.
Simple Studies Scholarship
The enigma that is the human brain. As complex and intertwined as this organ may be, exploring all of its pathways and their functions has become a passion of mine. It all began with a substitute teacher’s auspicious attempt at keeping my Honors Anatomy & Physiology class busy. Catastrophe. We were only twenty short minutes into class when we had extinguished the two-hour lesson plan. Understandably, the unsuspecting substitute teacher scrambled for the first tape she could find, dusted it off, plied it from its plastic covering in one swift “crack,” and slipped it into the archaic VHS player. The gargantuan TV perched on the front lab station sputtered to life. Throughout Phantoms in the Brain, neurologist V.S. Ramachandran discussed his traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and the anomalies which led to unprecedented insight on the human brain. My interest piqued. Shortly thereafter, I noticed a neuron sticker on a friend’s Hydro Flask. A conversation ensued. Hours of stimulating discourse felt like mere minutes as we explored possible explanations for the phantom limb phenomenon: the prospect of mirror neurons or the insufficient uptake of sensory input. To appease my ravenous hunger for knowledge, I plowed through a whirlwind of documentaries, TED Talks, research papers, podcasts, and enrolled in an AP Psychology course. Like a sponge, I absorbed all of the information, but it was not enough. Regardless, I was eager to put the knowledge I had acquired to use. In 2019, I began volunteering weekly at a local rehabilitation center. To improve the emotional recognition, perception, and overall brain function of TBI patients, I had them exercise their prefrontal cortex’s neural pathways by identifying facial expressions in pictures and making social inferences. Paradoxical to this explanation, the physiology behind improvement is barely understood. Just as I discovered when researching the phantom limb phenomenon, there is very little known about an organ capable of so much; I hope to change this by unveiling the many mysteries of the brain. My captivation with the brain stems from a search for answers to the body’s healing mysteries. In retrospect, my initial encounter with Dr. Ramachandran’s unique case studies cultivated a curiosity within me. As I sought more knowledge on the brain, my curiosity blossomed into the desire of becoming a behavioral neurologist. As such, I will delve deeper into complex brain diseases and disorders and use my research to improve the lives of those suffering from them. Furthering my education in Neuroscience/Psychology propels me towards this desire.
Bold Moments No-Essay Scholarship
One night, my friend Bella chipped her front tooth in an intense game of Keep Away. Witnessing her distress prompted me to take action. In order to alleviate her anxiousness, I assembled a themed recovery gift: the “I know the veneers won't be noticeable!" care package. The care package consisted of a get well soon card, a velvety-soft blanket, Oreo Cheesecake, and Colgate Whitening Strips (for a chuckle). I then dashed over to Bella’s house and delivered the package. Her bright (one-toothed) smile greeted me, then a bear hug engulfed me, and laughter erupted as Bella spotted the Colgate. Success.
Rosemarie STEM Scholarship
The enigma that is the human brain. As complex and intertwined as this organ may be, exploring all of its pathways and their functions has become a passion of mine. It all began with a substitute teacher’s auspicious attempt at keeping my Honors Anatomy & Physiology class busy. Catastrophe. We were only twenty short minutes into class when we had extinguished the two-hour lesson plan. Understandably, the unsuspecting substitute teacher scrambled for the first tape she could find, dusted it off, plied it from its plastic covering in one swift “crack,” and slipped it into the archaic VHS player. The gargantuan TV perched on the front lab station sputtered to life. Throughout Phantoms in the Brain, neurologist V.S. Ramachandran discussed his traumatic brain injury (TBI) research and the anomalies which led to unprecedented insight on the human brain. My interest piqued. Shortly thereafter, I noticed a neuron sticker on a friend’s Hydro Flask. A conversation ensued. Hours of stimulating discourse felt like mere minutes as we explored possible explanations for the phantom limb phenomenon: the prospect of mirror neurons or the insufficient uptake of sensory input. To appease my ravenous hunger for knowledge, I plowed through a whirlwind of documentaries, TED Talks, research papers, podcasts, and enrolled in an AP Psychology course. Like a sponge, I absorbed all of the information, but it was not enough. Regardless, I was eager to put the knowledge I had acquired to use. In 2019, I began volunteering weekly at a local rehabilitation center. To improve the emotional recognition, perception, and overall brain function of TBI patients, I had them exercise their prefrontal cortex’s neural pathways by identifying facial expressions in pictures and making social inferences. Paradoxical to this explanation, the physiology behind improvement is barely understood. Just as I discovered when researching the phantom limb phenomenon, there is very little known about an organ capable of so much; I hope to change this by unveiling the many mysteries of the brain. My captivation with the brain stems from a search for answers to the body’s healing mysteries. In retrospect, my initial encounter with Dr. Ramachandran’s unique case studies cultivated a curiosity within me. As I sought more knowledge on the brain, my curiosity blossomed into the desire of becoming a behavioral neurologist. As such, I will delve deeper into complex brain diseases and disorders and use my research to improve the lives of those suffering from them. Furthering my education in Neuroscience/Psychology propels me towards this desire. A degree in Neuroscience/Psychology is a stepping stone to attending medical school and medical school is a stepping stone to becoming a behavioral neurologist. Taking my place in this world as a caretaker begins with this degree. This degree, ultimately, provides me with a myriad of opportunities to give back to society: provide patient care, expand medical knowledge, improve overall mental health, etcetera. The research I conduct on the brain as a behavioral neurologist may allow for astounding medical breakthroughs. For instance, I may be able to treat/even cure TBI-inflicted impairments just as Dr. Ramachandran’s Mirror Box Therapy did for phantom limb pain. Regardless of what I discover, my research will contribute to our understanding of the brain. This understanding will inevitably lead the medical/scientific community to the breakthrough we all so desperately long for: the cure for dementia, how to prevent schizophrenia, etcetera. Whatever role I may play, be it small or large, in improving the lives of those around me is all I hope to accomplish with a degree in Neuroscience/Psychology.
Catarina Gerges Student Profile | Bold.org