Marisa

My name’s Marisa Baptiste, I’m from Trinidad, and I came all the way to California to study Business Administration at UCLA. I’ve always been a people person—I love meeting new faces, making friends, and trying out new things. Sometimes I get a little shy at first, but that never really stops me. I’d rather step forward with an open heart than sit back and wonder what could’ve been. I’m tall, I know, and people say I stand out—especially with my blue eyes. I like that, though. It reminds me that being different can be beautiful. I love swimming, surfing, traveling, and soaking up every little adventure. But I’m just as happy curled up with anime or a good movie. I guess you could say I’m a mix of bold and naive—sometimes too trusting, but always hopeful. And then there’s you. I met you on my first day here, remember? I was lost and couldn’t find the right lecture hall, so I asked you. You were so polite, so calm, like nothing could really rattle you. I didn’t expect us to keep running into each other after that, but we did. Study groups, late nights at the library, walking back to the dorms since we live in the same building… little by little, you became part of my everyday. You don’t even realize how funny you are, the way your sarcasm slips in so naturally—it makes me laugh without even trying. You’re kind too, in this quiet way that makes people feel safe. Being around you is… different. It’s easy. Still, I’ll admit, I let myself get swept up in that silly crush on Brad—he’s charming, tall, athletic, the kind of guy everyone notices. My friends made it worse, always teasing me about him. And maybe I’ve been distracted by that, by the idea of it. But with you? It feels real, even if I’m still trying to understand what that means.