As I sink into the soft, white couch, I feel the tension leave my body with each exhale. Slowly, I turn my head to the left and see a waning crescent shining back at me as the balcony lights twinkle underneath. I smile as I remember the first night I turned those lights on. The first night I found a home away from home with unexpected, yet extraordinary people. It’s in the dead of night when I finally feel tranquil and renewed.
These quiet nights in Berkeley are the ones I treasure most. When the buzzing traffic of students on campus, the pressure of academic success, and the worries of finding a purpose in life as a young adult all take their leave until the sun rises again the next morning. It’s these nights that remind me there’s more to the college years than competition and exhaustion.
Coming from a family that values education and hard work, these principles were engraved into me as soon as I was old enough to process language. I once believed that every moment in my life and every decision I made was for the sole purpose of getting into a prestigious university. Keyword: once. I no longer put as much emphasis on what my goals used to be. These quiet nights remind me to slow down and be present. Although this may sound cheesy and overused, these nights have taught me to appreciate what you have and where you are right now without the pressure of worrying about what comes next.
I let out another deep exhale, admire the beauty of the night sky once more, and align my view to the purple carnations on the countertop. I can’t help but buy fresh flowers every now and then. Such simple acts will uplift my mood instantly, so find what gives you that boost of serotonin. Small acts can lead to big changes.
Right next to it, I catch a glimpse of my housemates’ plants. I chuckle under my breath as I recall the stories we all shared the week before. There is never a dull moment with them. Despite attending a university with over 40,000 students, which many will agree is overpopulated, it’s surprisingly challenging to find people who feel like home. Relationships, platonic or romantic, only work if both parties are willing to work together. But, I believe that it will happen for every single one of us. Put yourself out there and learn as much as you can from them.
I refocus my line of vision to the moon and get comfortable. While I have much to learn and grow, I don’t carry that same weight of pressure anymore. Instead, I take it one day at a time.
With the quiet of the night blanketed around me, my breathing slows and my eyes begin to flutter shut. Before I know it, I fall asleep on the soft, white couch without a worry in the world.