Young Alum Q&A: Damiera Cruz '20

WHAT COLLEGE OR UNIVERSITY ARE YOU CURRENTLY ATTENDING, AND WHAT YEAR ARE YOU?

I am currently a junior at the University of San Diego.

WHAT MAJOR AND MINOR WILL YOU GRADUATE WITH?

I will graduate with a Bachelor of Arts in philosophy and a minor in philosophy, politics, and economics (PPE).

WHAT INSPIRED YOU TO STUDY AND PURSUE THESE AREAS OF INTEREST?

I have always been interested in the humanities. Some of my favorite Catalina classes were Ms. Ueda’s English II and Mrs. Paff’s AP English Literature. I loved analyzing texts in our Harkness discussions. Despite my love for English, I instantly felt at home in Dr. Murphy’s philosophy class. Philosophy allowed me to broaden my world view, refine my logical thinking, and engage in selfreflection. I recall many instances when Katalina Villarreal ’20 and I discussed theories from Dr. Murphy’s class. My initial interest in philosophy—and the fact that philosophy majors tend to have the highest law school admission test (LSAT) scores—inspired me to pursue a degree in philosophy.

I became interested in interdisciplinary study during my freshman year at Bryn Mawr. I noticed that studying seemingly unrelated subjects together leads to a more comprehensive understanding of society. My philosophy background and interest in improving society led me to find PPE programs; PPE aims to show how morality, politics, and economics affect society.

WHAT OTHER EXPERIENCES (ACADEMIC OR OTHERWISE) HAVE YOU ENJOYED IN COLLEGE?

Some of my favorite academic experiences have been the colloquium hosted by the philosophy department. I have had the pleasure of attending lectures by philosophy and economics professors from other universities. I was also invited to participate in an undergraduate PPE colloquium. With my peers at Chapman University and Pomona College, we discussed the practical implications of effective altruism. These experiences were exciting because I could learn from scholars and students at other schools and see how my studies could be applied in a real-world setting.

In addition, I have had some very impactful internships. I enjoyed working at the University of San Diego Law School’s Children’s Advocacy Institute, where I analyzed statutes related to child abuse disclosures. At the San Diego District Attorney’s Office, I am a student worker at One Safe Place, the North San Diego County Family Justice Center, which serves survivors of abuse, human trafficking, and victimization.

WHAT DO YOU SEE YOURSELF DOING AFTER GRADUATION?

I plan to attend law school. I aim to pursue a legal career focused on protecting vulnerable populations. I am interested in being a prosecutor working on child abuse/neglect and domestic violence cases. I also plan to work on community projects that provide resources for survivors.

WHAT DOES A “DAY IN THE LIFE OF YOU” LOOK LIKE RIGHT NOW?

Currently, my day begins at 5:00 a.m. After a quick breakfast and yoga flow, I head to my internship at the San Diego County District Attorney’s Office. I complete my work for the day and join the lunch workout group before returning to campus. Following my classes, I either attend club meetings or try to go for a scenic walk. If I can, I try to catch the sunset; there’s something so healing about a San Diego sunset.

HOW DID CATALINA COCURRICULAR INTERESTS CARRY OVER TO YOUR COLLEGE EXPERIENCE?

At Catalina, I was involved in swimming, water polo, and mock trial. In college, I retired from athletics due to injuries. In contrast, my interest in creative writing has remained. I have pieces in my college literary arts publication, The Alcalá Review. Nevertheless, the most influential Catalina co-curricular activity has been mock trial. My exposure to the law through mock trial has shaped the trajectory of my life.

WHAT BROADER LIFE LESSONS DID YOU LEARN AT CATALINA THAT HAVE SERVED YOU WELL IN COLLEGE?

The biggest lesson I learned was balance. At Catalina, I wanted to do everything. There were so many interesting clubs and activities that it felt impossible to join just a few. I wanted to be as involved as possible, but I discovered that being good at everything is impossible because there’s a finite amount of time. I had to learn how to prioritize what was most important to me. Not only did this allow me to be more present in the activities I was most passionate about, but I also found that I was happier as I no longer felt crushed by the weight of my extracurricular activities.

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU OFFER TO NEW STUDENTS AT SANTA CATALINA?

Take advantage of the present—don’t hesitate to do activities or hang out with people you have wanted to! I graduated from Catalina at the start of the pandemic, and there are still things I regret not doing. I always told myself that we could do it “later.” But as we all experienced, sometimes the world changes and there is no later.

IF YOU HAD TO DESCRIBE CATALINA IN THREE WORDS, WHAT WOULD THEY BE?

Formative. Encouraging. Home.