Each week, the Record (using a script in R) randomly selects a student at the College for our One in Two Thousand feature, excluding current Record board members. This week, Alejandra Ayala Becerra ’26 discussed her first three years at the College, her interest in classic literature and music, and her advice for first-years. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
Arleny Flores (AF): You recently returned from a semester abroad. Where did you go, and how was your experience?
Alejandra Ayala Becerra (AB): I went to London and it was so much fun. I had the best time. I was at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL), which is in East London. There were some Williams people, but I also joined the soccer team at QMUL and hung out with [the team] a lot. We had so much fun after games and at practice. London itself also is such a vibrant and great city, I loved the culture there. It was fun to explore the city, go to the museums, eat all the food, and just walk everywhere or take the tube everywhere.
AF: How did you decide to study in London?
AB: I was set on London because I grew up reading a lot of novels that were set in the U.K. or written by old English people, and I always wanted to explore that area. QMUL let me take classes in both [biology and English], and it was one of the few universities that allowed me to do that.
AF: What is it like to be back on campus? What are some of your favorite ways to spend time here?
AB: Williamstown is definitely very different from London. I’m from LA, so London is kind of familiar in the way that there’s so much going on all the time. There’s so many people, there’s so much to do, and Williamstown is very quiet. But I really have enjoyed my time at Williams, and part of that is because of the small-town feel. I like being able to walk everywhere. It’s been really great to come back and see everyone, especially people I haven’t seen in a long time. I went abroad in the spring and a lot of my friends went abroad in the fall, so I haven’t seen them for a full year.
AF: Do you have any bucket list items for your last few months here?
AB: I spent the summer here, so I did a lot of the things that I can’t usually do during the school year. I went on a lot of hikes. I did trivia nights. I’ve always wanted to stay overnight on top of Stone Hill in the “Crystal.” I know people who have, and I’ve always wanted to do that. That’s a bucket list item.
AF: What are your fondest memories from your first three years at the College?
AB: I really like Mountain Day. My friends and I always like to do the harder hikes. I like hanging out on the quad with my friends on a sunny day. I used to be part of the Latin dance team. I have good memories doing that.
AF: I heard that you play violin and cello and that you just recently taught yourself to play the guitar. What inspired you to pick up another instrument?
AB: I grew up playing piano and cello. I was in my high school and middle school orchestra. I also took piano and harp lessons here at Williams, and those were really fun. I hope to go back to harp lessons, maybe during the spring semester when I’m a little less busy. My dad plays guitar and my sister kind of plays guitar. So, I was like, “I also want to learn how to play guitar.” So, this summer, when I got back home after doing research here, I picked up my dad’s guitar and was teaching myself chords. I think guitar is a pretty easy instrument to learn as a piano player, so it was fun.
AF: You also enjoy classic literature. What are your favorite pieces?
AB: The boring answer to that is I just really like Jane Austen novels. I really like Pride and Prejudice, the film, the 2005 version. I think I can play all the music from that movie on the piano. I grew up watching [it]. It’s like my favorite movie ever. I have it memorized.
AF: What are some goals that you have set for yourself this year?
AB: Academically, I’m doing a bio thesis. I’m doing it on the hormone GLP-1.
AF: No way, like Ozempic?
AB: Yeah. I might be giving my mice Ozempic, which is crazy. I know it’s going to be a lot of work, but I’m excited to get that going and see where it goes. I’m excited to get everything out of my last fall semester, like all the seminars and all discussions. It’ll be a lot of work, but it’s my last fall semester.
AF: What are some post-graduation goals that you have?
AB: Oh my god, so stressful. I’m thinking about going to medical school. I’m thinking of either doing research or a postdoctoral program to help me get more clinical experience and explore the world of medicine more.
AF: What advice do you have for the Class of 2029?
AB: Just try everything. Join all the clubs and do everything. And if you don’t like it, you don’t like it, but just try it out. Meet people and put yourself out there. Talk to your professors. It can be scary, but college is so exciting.
