My Freshman Year at UC Berkeley

I still remember how I felt in those last few months of high school. Getting ready for prom with my friends, waiting for the bell in the classes I hated, and saying “See you later” to my friends before we went our separate ways to the colleges we committed to. 

While I was glad and grateful to be moving into this next chapter in my academic journey, I still had no idea what college would have in store for me when I arrived. Since high school was a breeze for me, I thought college wouldn’t be so different. But I was completely unprepared for the whole new ballpark I was about to enter. 

I grew up in the Bay Area and was fortunate enough to get into one of the most renowned schools in California — UC Berkeley. Even though I was worried about finances, my family convinced me that this was an opportunity I could not miss out on.

I had incredible professors who taught me valuable life lessons and peers who inspired me to do my best. Dorming with two other roommates left me with memories I will never forget.

Taking the bus to Emeryville and the BART to SF with my roommates and friends exposed me to all the delicious foods in the Bay Area. But in Berkeley, I don’t have to travel far to have a satisfied stomach either. At the end of the day, $16 is all you need to get two rolls of beef kimbap from Kimchi Garden.

Despite its image as a competitive school, the hardest part about college wasn’t the course content, but battling and overcoming myself. I was challenged in many other ways that I didn’t anticipate. 

Learning how to manage my mental health, for example, was a lesson I had to learn the hard way. Homesickness hit me hard. Going from seeing my parents every day to forgetting to call them once a week was difficult. I’d go home every once in a while when I got sick of the dining hall food.

During finals week, I was so stressed about my workload that I had a panic attack that sent me to the ER. Thankfully, that experience led me to seek out therapy, which majorly helped my symptoms of anxiety and depression.

Everyone talks about “imposter syndrome” when talking about student life in any top university. I struggled with my own form of imposter syndrome as well. I came to Berkeley as an aspiring English major. I juggled back and forth between a more traditional route to success, such as becoming a doctor, and studying what I actually enjoyed, even if it didn’t make me any money. Fortunately, I’m grateful to say that I’ve found my healthy balance.

By the end of my freshman year, I’d probably considered over 15 college major and minor programs. After taking an amazing introductory course in the Sociology department, I’m more sure about my decision to take on a Sociology degree on a pre-law track. 

I don’t know how next semester will go, but if this year has taught me anything, it’s that change and uncertainty is a necessary part of being alive. Our comfort zones are there to ground us, but also serve as reminders for us to grow past our perceived limits. 

Knives Nguyen (they/she/he), is a journalist from the Bay Area who covers entertainment, culture and student life. You can connect with them on LinkedIn: @knivesnguyen.

Edited by Nykeya Woods