Alyssa Machida Class: Junior Hometown: Los Angeles, Calif. High School: Palisades Charter HS Height / Weight: 5-5 / 150

Personal: made the Dean's list at Palisades Charter High School ... participated on the swim team all four years in high school, and won the Coach's Award twice ... traveled to Japan last summer ... parents are Haruhiko and Kazue Machida ... art history major, and hopes to get a PHD in art history and become a museum curator.

The best part about being on Cal crew is: You learn that you are capable of doing anything simply by opening yourself up to all possibilities.

The best part of the University is: It's full of opportunities to achieve something great, beyond what you've ever imagined.

I chose Cal because: I loved the spirit of the university, and I knew I couldn't be happier anywhere else.