Takeaways from my first year at UC Berkeley
After picking up the keys to my residence hall room, unloading all of my suitcases, and saying goodbye to my family, I took a walk around the UC Berkeley campus, which was glowing in the late August sunlight. As my roommate and I strolled beneath Sather Gate, I remember looking around, seeing the Campanile peek out from behind Wheeler Hall, and thinking, “I feel like I just stepped into an entirely new world.”
I wasn’t wrong. Throughout my first year, I have immersed myself into a world of new friends, new clubs, new interests, and new classes. But with these exciting new experiences also comes new anxieties and unexpected challenges. As the sun sets on my first year at UC Berkeley, I want to share some of my insights on how I navigated this new world, from my first week to the end of spring semester.
Things settle down after GBO
The first few days after move-in felt like a whirlwind. I was meeting so many new people all at once, and I became accustomed to the 30-second introductions that were rehearsed hundreds of times: name, hometown, major. “Hi, I’m Shae, I’m from Santa Barbara, and I think I want to study English.” While GBO (Golden Bear Orientation) week was filled with exploration and activities that familiarized me with the Berkeley campus, I felt incredibly drained at the end of each day, especially as somebody who was more introverted.
After the first week of classes, things started to settle down, much to my relief. I began to see familiar faces in my lectures and residence hall, and I could actually get to know these people beyond three basic questions. My social battery was refilled with genuine conversations and connections, and I was able to grow closer to a smaller circle of friends.
It’s understandable to feel overwhelmed by the amount of new students you meet; just remember that the first few days aren’t necessarily representative of what the rest of the semester will look like!
Homesickness is normal (even if nobody talks about it)!
I remember having a conversation with my friend during orientation week where she flat out asked me, “Are you homesick? Because I miss home and I feel like nobody else is talking about that!” I couldn’t agree more with her. Despite how packed our orientation days were, I found myself longing for things about my hometown that I didn’t even realize I would miss — the trees outside of my house, my local coffee shops, and my neighborhood park. Yet, I felt like nobody was sharing any similar feelings out loud, which made me feel even more isolated.
Looking back on my first few weeks, I feel like they went by in a flash. But in the moment, when you’re missing home, the days can feel really long, and you want nothing more than to fast-forward through time. You may find yourself adjusting to the Berkeley environment surprisingly seamlessly, or you might be more homesick than you thought. Regardless, it’s completely normal to miss home when you move to a different place, even if it seems like nobody else is expressing those emotions. And, if you could use a little extra support, you can ask your Resident Assistant (RA) for help, or check out these homesickness resources from University Health Services.
Something that I found helpful was making my new space feel like home. I put up decorations in my room, added soft lighting, and put pictures of people and things I love on the walls. This helped me create a comforting, warm space to come back to every day.
I wish I could go back to those moments and remind myself to be patient, that it is going to take time to adjust to living in a new space, surrounded by so many new people. I still miss my hometown at times, but I remind myself to embrace how lucky I am to call two places home now!
View of the Campanile at sunset from my window.
Clubs foster a sense of community
Coming to UC Berkeley, one of the most daunting aspects was how large the student body was. I didn’t know how I was going to “find my people” amongst the crowds of new students. For me, joining clubs was key to finding a sense of belonging and community on campus. Through club meetings and events, I’ve been able to connect with a smaller group of students who share similar interests.
Calapalooza occurs at the start of every semester, where different clubs and student organizations table along Upper Sproul Plaza. This was a great way for me to learn about the variety of clubs that Berkeley offers, and identify which groups I was interested in joining. While Berkeley may be known for having a competitive club culture, there are actually a lot of clubs that accept all interested members, or that have a more relaxed application or audition process.
I knew that I wanted to continue dancing when I came to Berkeley, so in my fall semester, I joined Danceworx, after finding out about them through Instagram. It’s a student-run dance organization that offers tap, jazz, contemporary, and open dancing. Throughout weekly rehearsals, I’ve connected with other students who share my passion for tap dance. Performing in our fall showcase was truly a highlight of my freshman year! This semester I had the opportunity to choreograph a tap piece for our spring showcase, and I’m so grateful to have found a welcoming and supportive community of dancers.
Initiate conversations. You can do it!
Throughout my first year at Berkeley, I can confidently say that I became a more extroverted person. Maybe I wouldn’t go so far as to call myself an “extrovert” outright, but I’ve definitely become more comfortable initiating conversations and talking to new people. Though I first saw it as daunting, I realized that what is amazing about Berkeley’s large student population is that there’s no shortage of people to meet. Asking about how somebody’s classes are or what clubs they are in are great conversation starters!
Living in the residence halls was a good starting point for me. I got to know the people who lived on my floor throughout GBO, and their proximity to my own room made it really convenient to keep our conversations going. I can’t imagine what my freshman year would have been like if I didn’t connect with friends on my floor. Next year, I am excited to be living in an off-campus apartment with three of my floormates!
My floormates and I at one of our friend’s lacrosse games!
Embrace the change
I can’t believe that I’m about to be taking my last finals of my first year and moving out of my freshman year residence hall room, because I feel like I just unpacked my bags. If I could go back and talk to myself on move-in day, when I was marveling at the Campanile and filled with anxiety and wonder, I would remind myself that any transition takes time. Despite how new everything feels, you will find a sense of home. Let yourself feel all of the emotions that come with this time of transition, and above all, embrace the change.
Shae Cogswell, Class of 2029, is majoring in English.
Want more?
- Learn about how to connect with other students with Nina’s advice for making friends at Cal.
- New to the Berkeley lingo? Here’s a comprehensive list of Berkeleyisms, or phrases unique to Cal.
- Explore what GBO entails and learn what to expect for your first week at Berkeley.