Cal through the years and advice for new students
As I’m rounding out my “senior spring” at UC Berkeley, I’m reflecting on my experiences here these past four years. One thing that has been really special for me has been the way I’ve been able to further connect with my parents, as both are Cal alums! My mom attended UC Berkeley as an undergraduate student from 1978 to 1982, majoring in nutrition. My dad came here for graduate school to get his Master’s of Business Administration at the Haas School of Business from 1989 to 1991. Their guidance has shaped the way I’ve navigated my college experience, and now I’m passing on some of the things I’ve learned to help others make the most of their time at UC Berkeley.
Axe Rally,1979.
Mama Bear
Working at Cal
When my mom attended UC Berkeley, it was still on the quarter system — this would later change in 1983, right after she graduated. She lived in Spens-Black Hall and worked at the dining commons in Unit 3, in addition to some other jobs around campus during her college career.
“The best job I ever had was working in the Eshleman Hall study lounge. I essentially got paid to study”. Work-study and on-campus jobs are some of the best opportunities Berkeley has to offer, as they allow you to earn money and work experience in a way that is flexible with your course load.
Like my mother, I’ve also taken advantage of on-campus job opportunities to work for Student Affairs. My job involves making social media and blog content like this very article, which has been a great opportunity to further my skills in an area I’m passionate about! In addition to working on campus, my mom also worked as an usher for performances in San Francisco which was a great opportunity to see shows for free or to get cheap student tickets. Many groups still offer opportunities like this, including the San Francisco Playhouse.
Berkeley favorites
I asked her about some of her favorite things from her time at Cal. She recalled watching one sunset over the Golden Gate Bridge from the top floor of Eshleman Hall that was particularly vibrant.
“Everyone started clapping,” she said.
Getting food with friends at iconic Berkeley spots also stood out, like Cafe Strada and Yogurt Park in particular, as well as Fondue Fred’s, a cheese fondue restaurant on Telegraph Avenue that closed in 2019. She also just loved to soak in the hustle and bustle of campus life.
“Walking through Sproul, you felt like you were in the heart of things,” she said, “you felt proud.”
My mom and me, each holding the Stanford Axe at the Big Game (1979 and 2023, respectively).
The Rally Committee
One of the strongest connections between our Berkeley experiences is the UC Rally Committee. Growing up, my mom told me loads of stories about her time on the Rally Committee, attending sporting events and campus rallies, and it seemed like a great way to connect with campus spirit. So before even coming to Berkeley, joining Rally Comm was something I was curious about — I was determined to at least try it out. During Welcome Week of my freshman year, I went straight to the Rally Comm table and later attended their general meeting that night. Fast forward to now: I’ve made all of my closest friends through Rally Comm, including my current roommate, and most of my fondest memories at Berkeley are things I did with the club.
Both my mom and I served on the club’s Executive Committee — my mother as Historian, and me as the Director of Card Stunts. We even both got to carry the Stanford Axe onto the field during the Big Game, which was an incredibly special experience. The club has stayed the same for the most part, after all the sole purpose of the Committee is to preserve traditions, but a lot of things have been updated, such as the bonfire structure. It used to be made up of wooden crates, but now has a proper metal structure for safety.
Papa Bear
My dad’s experience was a bit different when he attended UC Berkeley for his master’s degree in 1989. In addition to his studies, he was a Graduate Student Instructor (GSI) for macroeconomics as well as serving as an Resident Assistant (RA) and sitting on the Board of Directors for the International House (I-House).
My dad graduating from UC Berkeley in 1991.
The International House
When my dad lived in the I-House, it was about half U.S. Citizens and half international students — mostly graduate students. “Freedom of expression was encouraged and folks were truly intellectually and culturally curious,” he said. “Some of the residents who lived there were under the same roof and dining halls while their home countries were still at war. Apartheid was still alive in South Africa at the time, but you had White and Black South Africans ‘breaking bread’ together at the I-House and really getting to know each other.”
Classes at Cal
The prestige of Berkeley is certainly something that’s been consistent across generations.
“I’m not sure I appreciated the prestige of the professors at the time. I had one class with about six people in macroeconomics that was taught by Janet Yellen (who later became the Chair of the Federal Reserve and the U.S. Secretary of Treasury),” my dad shared. I find myself forgetting how impressive my professors are too because they have been so down to earth and approachable. But many are famous in their respective fields and are extremely well respected for their research. We have many Nobel Laureates teaching here!
Classes are also ever evolving, and adapt to stay relevant as the world changes. For example, my dad was giving a presentation in his managerial communications course in the basement of the Social Sciences Building (at the time known as Barrows Hall), when the Bay Area earthquake of 1989 hit. The building he was in was definitely not earthquake proof and it took him hours before he was able to get a call through to his parents. Years later in 2024, I took a course titled Earthquakes in Your Backyard which talked about that very earthquake, among others, and how some of the buildings on campus have been retrofitted to be safer.
Berkeley favorites
When I asked my dad what he liked about Cal he shared, “Everyone seemed to fit in. Nobody felt like an outcast, regardless of personal style, interests, fields of study, backgrounds, and even political ideologies. And, everybody was pretty darn smart.”
He also enjoyed attending student performances, going to football games, and taking trips around the Bay like to Tilden Park, San Francisco, and Oakland A’s games. Here, I have a lot in common with my dad — I’ve also greatly enjoyed visiting Tilden Park when the weather gets warm, and I’ve tried to take advantage of Bay Pass to visit other parts of the Bay as much as possible.
My parents helping me move back into campus my second and fourth years.
Once a Golden Bear, always a Golden Bear
Because of my parents, I grew up a Cal fan. For as long as I can remember, I’ve known that the answer to “Who’s gonna win the game?” was “CAL!” I also knew a lot of the Rally Committee songs even before realizing that’s where they were from. My mom used to sing the Titanic march-up song around the house, but I never made the connection to Berkeley until I attended my first football game here. So when I was admitted to UC Berkeley myself in 2022, it felt right. My mom came into my room the night I officially committed to Berkeley with a bunch of her old Cal merch to pass down to me — t-shirts, signs, and her old Oski teddy bear with a hand sewn t-shirt. To this day, that’s one of my favorite memories.
Oski and I posing with my mom’s Oski teddy bear.
Since I’ve been here, we have attended several football games as a family and it’s been really special to be able to experience that together. The cheers and songs are all still the same as when they attended. Returning to Berkeley to visit me is like a trip down memory lane for them.
“It feels like a time warp — as if I never left,” my dad said.
“Brings back so many fun memories and a feeling of confidence that our generation was ready to take on the world,” my mom agreed.
Make the most of your Berkeley
My mom and dad graduating from Berkeley in 1982 and 1991; me graduating in 2026.
Reflecting on what my parents shared and my time here at Berkeley, it seems like the common theme is Berkeley is what you make of it. My parents always encouraged me to put myself out there and try new things, and that would be my advice for the next generation of Berkeley. In fact, I’ve found that getting involved on campus has been the best way to build community here. For my mom it was the Rally Committee, for my dad, being an RA at the I-House, and for me, the many clubs I’ve joined here.
I also learned that it’s never too late for a fresh start. During my time at Cal, I did three different sports — Cal Women’s Club Waterpolo, Berkeley Artistic Swimming, and Danceworx. I didn’t even start Danceworx until my senior year, and I’ve still met some of my favorite people through it. It’s become something I look forward to every week. Whether it’s joining a new club or even switching your major, you’re not stuck on the path you choose when you first get here.
Try new things and find out what makes Berkeley special for you.
Rachel Holmes, Class of 2026, is majoring in media studies and minoring in theater and performance studies. Cover photo by The Rally Committee.
Want more?
- Get ready for graduation with Melissa’s Senior To-Do List.
- Take time to de-stress during your last semester.
- Learn about some of Hosea’s favorite things from his four years at Cal.