As an undergraduate Anteater, Orion Pettit ’23 psychology was a member and ally of SAFIRE (Students Advocating For Immigrant Rights and Equity). He played a key role in the campus’s Immigration Awareness Week, a seven-day series of events meant to educate and raise awareness about undocumented identities and struggles on UCI campus. Now a newly minted alumnus, Pettit is planning to pursue a career helping others improve their mental health and wellbeing. Below, the former Regents Scholar from Pomona shares more about his UCI experience and what’s next.

What interests you most about your major?

I decided to major in psychology because I find human development and relationships interesting. I wanted to better understand how and why people think or act the way they do. More specifically, I found the research and understanding of mental illnesses fascinating as it gave me knowledge and a more nuanced understanding of what people in my life might be experiencing.

What would you consider your biggest accomplishment at UCI?

I believe that my biggest accomplishment was completing my degree, as I have had a few difficult quarters with the COVID-19 pandemic hitting in the middle of my freshman year. From 2019-2021 I was a Regents Scholar. I also had a $10,000 scholarship from the Horatio Alger Association to assist with tuition and housing expenses.

What activities were you involved in while an Anteater?

I was a member and ally of SAFIRE (Students Advocating For Immigrant Rights and Equity). As a committee member of Immigration Awareness Week, I assisted in creating flyers, logos, and programs for the week-long series of events meant to educate and raise awareness about undocumented identities and struggles on UCI campus.

What’s your best memory from your time at UCI?

Meeting my friends during my freshman year and minting that bond of friendship for the entire 4 years I was here.

You finished your program in summer – huge congrats! What’s on the horizon?

I completed my bachelor’s degree in summer of 2023. As of now, I am focused on finding a position of employment that will allow me to help those with mental illnesses or other such disabilities.