Visit SF State - Word on the Street - Christopher Quock
Name...
Christopher Quock
Title...
Undergraduate, Zoology
Hometown...
San Francisco
Why SF State..?
Proximity to home, a campus that's easy to navigate and affordability. The Presidential Scholars program scholarship I received made attending SF State more economically feasible and provided me with a social network to make the adjustment to college a lot easier. Being grouped together with other Presidential Scholars in the same classes for the first semester helped me to avoid feeling completely lost in the college setting. I was recommended for the scholarship by my high school principal based on my grades and participation in school functions and events. Without the coverage of my tuition fees by the scholarship, I would not have been able to afford attending SF State as a full-time student.
What majors are you considering..?
I have always had an interest in the biological sciences and have volunteered at the California Academy of Sciences. Many new fields are opening up which demand background in the biological sciences, so I thought it would be useful to take classes toward a degree which would give me that foundation.
Favorite spot on campus...
I enjoy hanging out in the Student Union building. It's almost always full of people, but there are plenty of places to sit down and eat or read a book. The Depot on the lower level also has an arcade center and a pool hall.
What do you like most about SF State so far..?
The cultural and ethnic diversity. There are all sorts of interesting people with different views that I had never been exposed to before. Also, since there are many people from different parts of California, other states, and even other countries, it provides a perfect environment in which to form relationships or friendships with some really unique characters.
Advice for new students...
Enjoy yourself, but also get all loose ends (grading ambiguities, financial issues, etc.) taken care of early so they don't cause any other problems in the future. Also, don't start out with the most difficult courses packed together. Scheduling breaks in between classes or leaving a day or two just for cooling off or catching up on class obligations can really help to reduce stress -- especially when the workload picks up around exams and finals. Before I register for classes, I usually try to get feedback from other people about professors or I look them up online. Taking some interesting classes just for fun can also liven up the university experience.
Hobbies...
Chinese brush painting is an art form very similar to watercolor, with a strong emphasis on composition and the brush strokes used. Many of the techniques for creating certain strokes on the paper involve the placement of the wrist, arm and body. It's a very old form of artwork that is prevalent throughout Chinese culture. I do one or two extra pieces once in awhile, in addition to the weekly painting assignments from my current art teacher. My paintings have been both sold and auctioned off at several events. Some of the primary occasions to which I have donated paintings have been the annual fundraisers for Star Academy and the auctions for Raoul Wallenberg Traditional High School. Most of my artwork has been donated to these programs.
Three things you'd take to a desert island...
Fishing gear, drinking water and my camping tent.
Last good book you read...
"Coming of Age in Mississippi" by Anne Moody in History 121.
