Student Profiles

Hometown: Carson, CA

With so many colleges and universities in the region, Cleaya says Baltimore is diverse and welcoming. “Baltimore is great for college students; it has a lot of cost-friendly activities and free, effective public transportation.”

To explore Baltimore, Cleaya hops on the Baltimore Collegetown Shuttle or the Charm City Circulator. When the weather is nice, she heads to the Inner Harbor to walk and shop. She also enjoys visits to the Walters Art Museum. “The artwork is beautiful, and it’s easy to get there through public transportation. To top it off, admission is free.”

Cleaya studies on campus at the Notre Dame Otenasek House. When she’s ready for an off-campus study break, she has two go-to spots. For coffee and pastries, Cleaya likes One Wolrd Café. There are a variety of coffee blends to choose from and the majority of the pastries are vegan. Her personal favorite is the carrot cake cream cheese muffin. For a late-night snack, Cleaya’s hands-down favorite is Paper Moon Diner. It’s open until midnight Sunday through Thursday and until 2 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays. “There’s nothing better than a study trip break to Paper Moon for their bacon milkshake or their Captain Crunch milkshake.”