female silhouette of head and shoulders

Anaya Zuniga

River Hawk Scholars Academy Peer Leader

College
Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences

Biosketch

  • Name: Anaya Zuniga
  • College: College of Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences
  • Major: Psychology and a minor in Exercise Science
  • Hometown: Lawrence, Massachusetts
  • Favorite hobbies: My favorite hobbies are photography, reading, drawing, and being with family and friends
  • What is your favorite thing about UMass Lowell (UML)? My favorite thing about UML is the resources. Everyone is always willing to help you in any way they can to see you succeed.
  • What are your future goals? My future goals are to graduate and go to DPT school to become a physical therapist
  • What has having been involved with the RHSA meant to you? It has been an honor to be a part of a group that feels like family.
  • Looking back, what advice would you give yourself in your first year of college? A piece of advice I would give myself in my first year of college is not to doubt myself. Yes, it will be challenging, but you will make it through. You do not always have to do it independently to accept help from your family, peers, and professors.
  • What advice would you give fellow students? You are not alone; it will be okay, and you will get to your goal no matter what path it takes.
  • Why did you choose to attend UMass Lowell? I chose UMass Lowell because of my major. I have long been passionate about this field, and I am excited to learn and experience the trade by reaching my goal.
  • What does it mean to you to be a first-generation college student? Being a first-generation student is an honor and a great responsibility; it is becoming a role model to my little brother and giving back to my parents everything they have sacrificed to get me where I am today.
  • What inspires you to want to help first-generation students in the RHSA? What inspires me to help first-generation students in RHSA is being able to let them know that they always have someone here to talk to and rely on. College is challenging, as it involves school, work, family, and having time for yourself. It is a step toward adulthood that we all are learning. Without my peer leader, I do not know what I would do without her; she has helped me with everything, and I cannot thank her enough. It shows me how much I want to be there for others, what she was for me.