A CLU sophomore and Moorpark native, Matthew Trujillo will dazzle you will his warm personality and light-hearted humor. A communications major with an emphasis in film and TV, Trujillo also explores his interest in theology by minoring in religion. Read on to learn about his love of adventuring and check out his beautiful photography!
Her Campus Cal Lutheran: What are you involved with on and off campus?
Matthew Trujillo: I am an officer with Happiness club, a co-lead with Petra for our Jesus on Water 3G book club, and captain of the La Nina and El Nino intramural soccer teams. I occasionally play guitar with the Common Ground band, and I direct our school’s Outdoor Recreation department. Off campus, I work as a counselor at a summer camp, and I’ve gone back during the school year to volunteer and do photography for them.
HCCLU: What made you decide to come to CLU?
MT: I hadn’t really gotten into the other schools that I applied to (I was applying to some unrealistic schools), so it came down to Merced and here. But for quite a few years I had Cal Lu in the back of my mind. It just felt right, it felt natural. There was no doubt when it came to deciding to come here. It was local, it was good in academics, it was small, it was green and beautiful. It was a good choice.
HCCLU: What have you loved so far about this university?
MT: The personal connections, the people, the staff, the professors, the variety and diversity. Honestly, I don’t know where I would be right now if I hadn’t come to Cal Lutheran. Some of my closest friends I met through school. It’s opened up so many opportunities and new experiences, it’s crazy to think I can trace it all down to the decision to come here.HCCLU: It looks like you do a lot with Outdoor Rec! Tell me about this organization.
MT: I get to plan cool outdoor trips for cal lu students! Budgeting, planning, and all other logistics is the most difficult part when organizing different hikes, camping trips, waterfront activities and such. The best part is actually going on these trips, leading them, and having fun with great people from school. We also have a sports/camping rental equipment program for students – all our gear is free to use! We have tents, stoves, sleeping bags, all the sports stuff you can dream of, ect.
HCCLU: What has been your favorite outing so far with Outdoor Rec?
MT: Probably our most recent overnight trip: we went to Big Bear mountain for a weekend in February. It was awesome, we stayed at a cabin, played in the snow – there was SO MUCH SNOW!! We hiked to Castle Rock peak and did some sledding. It was really fun, we had a smooth atmosphere, and everyone was really chill. We made s’mores, sat by the fire, and even had a musical jam sesh.HCCLU: I know you’re quite into photography. Where did this interest come from?
MT: I’ve always enjoyed visual art in one way or another, but I guess my interest really started the summer before I came to Cal Lu – I went on a backpacking trip in the Sierras for a couple weeks, and the pictures my friends took were really cool, so I thought: “hey! I want to take pictures like that, with the dope cameras and all.” Then, about a year ago, I was introduced to Instagraham. I realized I could show my pictures with not only my friends, but with people around the world. It was really cool, so I created Colorful Beans to take care of that. For quite a while, all the pictures I took were from my phone, but I recently pulled enough dough to get an actual dslr. It’s really cool, it started as an interest, morphed into a hobby, and now I’m actually getting job offers – just because people have looked at what I post on the ‘gram.
HCCLU: What is your most favorite photo you’ve taken so far? Why is this your favorite one?
MT: I like to say I specialize in landscape, or nature photography, but I really like having people in my shots. They give scale, context, and it’s a beautiful thing to be able to capture a moment, a memory. This one is from that backpacking trip in the Sierras – these three were our field instructors. The one in the middle was the program director, explaining to the others which route we were going to take to climb the peak of Mt. Henry. It’s so special to me because it’s a great memory, my friends and I were taking a break while they worked to figure out the mountain. I was just in a state of awe and bliss. (I know the mountain looks big, but it’s way bigger than it looks, his fingernail is about the size of two people)HCCLU: What are you passionate about?
MT: I love music, listening and playing. You can always catch me outside, on a mountain or in the sea – my friends and I are always living for the outdoors. Every day is a new adventure.
HCCLU: What is your dream job?
MT: Honestly, no clue. Something fun I guess. If I could do what I do now for Outdoor Rec, but make it big-scale, and get better cashmoney….then that would be pretty ideal. Or maybe make movies. That would be sweet.
HCCLU: If you could live anywhere in the world, where would you live and why?
MT: I would like to be in a place that is naturally green, has weather and changing seasons, where people are nice and stuff – basically everything So Cal is not, sorry not sorry. Oregon and Washington are top candidates at the moment. My ideal plan is to travel a bit until I find a place I want to settle down in, and stay.
HCCLU: Anything you’d like to add?
MT: I like long walks on the beach, Jesus Christ Superstar is a great movie, and hacky sack is my ideal pastime.
*All photos provided by Matthew Trujillo