Andrea Bahaia Siman

What is your favorite campus tradition? Football season is my favorite time of year, but singing the Alma Mater in the student section after every game is definitely my favorite campus tradition.

What is your favorite spot on campus? The Grotto and the picnic table next to the lake.

What is your best Notre Dame memory? I couldn't pick one, Dining Hall dinners that would last hours, the push-ups after a touchdown, taking study breaks with my friends at the Library, tailgating, among many others.

What is your favorite Dining Hall Meal? Southwest Chicken Salad and Waffles with Nutella!!

What is your favorite thing about dorm life? I think my favorite part is the sense of community that makes me feel at home.

What clubs/activities are you involved in? Campus Outreach Director of ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals For America), Client Relations Manager for Pakta Consulting, SIBC (Student International Business Council) and International Admissions Assistant.

What made you choose Notre Dame? The fact that is one of the best universities in the country, the sense of community, the importance of being a well-rounded person and the incredible people that attend here made my decision pretty easy from my first visit.

What is your favorite part about being an international student at Notre Dame? Being able to learn different perspectives and cultures in classroom discussions.

How did you adjust to life on campus? I was able to adjust pretty easily by being open-minded to meet as many people as possible from my dorm, classes or activities.

How do you celebrate your culture/heritage at ND? At least a couple of times a semester, we make a Salvadoran reunion to eat “Pupusas” and catch up with our friends.

What advice do you have for international students? Be open to new opportunities, get involved with as much as you can as long as you like it, get to know your professors (they are pretty cool people), ask questions and don’t be afraid to share your point of view.