Hannah Watts is a third-year physics student at UCLA who transferred from community college. At Exploring Physics at UCLA, an event organized by the student-led Continuum Club to connect aspiring physicists with researchers and opportunities in the field, Watts helped behind the scenes and found herself drawn into conversations that led to a new research opportunity. Below, she shares her experience at the event, the challenges of transferring to UCLA, and the importance of finding community along the way.
What brought you to Exploring Physics at UCLA, and what did you take away from the experience?
I had initially volunteered to work at this event as a favor to a friend. But the speaker lineup was so impressive that I couldn’t help but listen in. After the speakers finished, I had several burning questions, and we got to spend time chatting about them. Months later, I emailed one of the speakers, who remembered me from the event. He put me in contact with another professor, and now I am conducting research under him.
Exploring Physics gave me the opportunity to connect with professors I wouldn’t have otherwise met, and continue my research journey with one of them.
Did anything you heard or experienced at the event change or expand the way you think about studying physics and where it might take you?
From listening to the speakers’ advice on starting research, I learned that it’s not your perfect grades or résumé that catch a researcher’s attention, but rather your passion. As a transfer student, it’s easy to get into an imposter syndrome mindset, where I feel like I’m not good enough for my field or my research. This talk helped me see through that and realize I’m right where I belong.
What was the path from community college to studying physics at UCLA like for you, and what would you want a community college student considering that path to know?
“Community” could not be more emphasized in community college. When I was at CC, my professors and TAs felt like my peers, some even my friends. The class sizes were much smaller, and it felt so easy to find my people.
My first quarter at UCLA, it felt like I had no idea who my professors were, and they had no idea who I was. The class sizes were intimidating, and I felt surrounded by people who knew so much more than I did. It was so hard to put myself out there—answering questions and risking being wrong in front of 100 people, going to office hours and risking a renowned researcher looking down on me, group studying and risking judgment from peers. The list goes on.
That’s why I think transfer-centered communities like Continuum are so important. In connecting with Sherry, I’ve gained valuable friendship and support, and being part of Continuum has shown me how many transfers, or transfers-to-be, are feeling the same things I did.
For someone just starting, I would want them to know they’re not alone in feeling this way. I would tell them to join a community early (especially one for transfer students) and attend events and lectures like Exploring Physics to expand their circle to new friends and research opportunities.