I’m sitting in a tea house at Irvine right now, waiting for my friends to finish their discussion/lectures. It’s been a week since the end of school for me, and the past week has been so relaxing and refreshing.
I still can’t believe that I’m done with year one, and this fact didn’t even hit me until I was eating lunch at UCI’s dining commons today. I’m done. I survived. And I thrived.
College has honestly been one of the high points of my life. For the first time, I felt that I was able to live life on my own, to learn and to grow. I’ve met so many new people, and I’ve learned so many new things in the span of one year.
It seems like only yesterday that I was standing in line with my family, checking in to my dorms at Clark Kerr Campus. I still remember moving into my room, meeting the people on my floor, and introducing myself to the roommates.
Exploring the campus and Berkeley area came soon after, as well as fun nights playing pool, poker, Catchphrase, chatting, and going out.
And then midterms hit like a storm in paradise, and as I struggled to balance the clubs and job I took on, I managed to make it out of finals and semester one alive, picking up a few important life lessons and skills along the way.
Taking a good break during the winter, I went back to Cal in the spring and experienced a sort of rebirth. Being chair of the Publications committee, working as a sales rep for The Daily Californian, planning out events for Hall Association, and balancing five classes was unexpectedly a lot of fun.
I met so many people during the spring, and I made a lot of new friends. I felt comfortable in the college atmosphere, and I felt that I was able to handle the pressure with relative ease.
I’ve felt very fortunate to have had such an amazing year. I know my floor had something to do with it. It’s rare to meet such a group of motivated, funny, and cool kids, with great aspirations in life and a penchant for a good time. Whether it was sharing the good times or sweating through the tough times, they have always been there.
Working at The Daily Cal has definitely taught two essential skills in life: talking to people one-on-one, and learning to take rejection. I’ve improved my communication skills greatly over the year, and I feel more comfortable in casual and professional conversations. Because of work, I’ve also had the chance to travel off-campus, visiting and exploring neighboring Albany.
ABA, my business club, has definitely made the biggest impact of my freshman year. I’ve learned such much throughout the year, improving my professional and social skills. Such an awesome group of people…ABA’ers are funny, friendly, and always eager to teach and to give a helping hand. Bonding with the Spring 2010 Cabinet, meeting new members, and talking to alumni who have experienced the things I was going through was eye-opening and fun.
Anyway, I think by now you get the point: I’m absolutely loving college, and I intend continue on the path I’ve taken, meeting new people, working hard, and having a good time along the way. My take-home message for incoming freshmen: study hard, be involved in (and focus on) a club early, be proactive, and remember that college is what you make of it. Carpe diem!
Looking forward to a jam-packed summer and fall semester.
Glen’s college adventures at randomtidbitsofthought.wordpress.com.
