Interview with Abby Owen

RAs, resident advisors, are an essential part of COSMOS. They help COSMOS and make sure everything runs smoothly from overseeing the safety of students to upholding program policies in residential halls, UCI grounds, and field trips. 

I conducted an interview with a resident advisor from the Woodhall dorm.

Interviewee: Abby Owen (RA)

Interviewer: Mika Kohno

1. Introduce yourself

“My name is Abby Owen. In terms of COSMOS I’m a RA for Woodhall floor 2. It’s my first year being a RA. School wise it’s my second year at UCI as a bio sci major.”

2. How do you like being a RA so far?

“Oh it's good! I love it. It’s fun to meet new students–like to hear their stories and kind of learn why they’re interested in COSMOS. Yeah, it’s fun! Also I have a really good group of RAs–so like it's a great staff. Everyone is so fun to be around and the students are really great. Yeah, overall a good experience.”

3. You mentioned in a previous introduction that you’re a cluster 6 alum. How is the experience different from being a student as opposed to being a RA?

“I guess it’s just responsibility. Now I have more responsibility on the backside–the inside 

workings of COSMOS. I get to be part of helping planning activities instead of just going to them. And then I got to help– I just wanted to come back as an alumni ‘cuz I loved COSMOS as a student and it’s kind of like giving back to a program that gave me such a great experience. I just like being on the other side of things and doing my little part to run it and work with Katie [assistant director of UCI COSMOS] and Zoe [program coordinator of UCI COSMOS]. It’s fun!”

4. When you were a student, what was the most memorable activity at COSMOS?

“Casino night. Casino night was really fun because I’m actually big into cards and games and all that stuff. I play that with my family and friends so it was fun to come here and play with people I met. Casino night is great. I also really liked karaoke night.”

5. Would you say you were interested in genes, genomes, and muscular dystrophies [cluster 6] before COSMOS?

“Yeah it was 8th grade when I realized I liked genetics. I have a really good relationship with my 8th grade science teacher and he did a whole lecture on genetics. I was like, “This is cool” and it kind of stuck through honors bio and AP bio and then COSMOS. COSMOS solidified it.”

6. How do you like being a bio sci major at UCI?

“I love it. I tell this to everyone who asks me this question, I’m like a local. I wasn’t opposed to it but I didn’t necessarily want to go super close to home. But COSMOS helped me realize I actually really like the campus. Now that I’m here I love it. It’s kind of perfect for me. It's great though because some people didn’t have the best freshman year experience but mine was perfect. I’m surprised by how much I love my major.”

7. What’s your favorite food at the cafeteria?

“I’m vegetarian so it might not be the same for everyone. Their tofu stir fry is very good. Also soft serve at the cafeteria is also really good…UCI surprises me with really good food.”