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UC Berkeley | Life > Experiences

SO, TELL US ABOUT YOURSELF

Alivia Azzahra Student Contributor, University of California - Berkeley
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UC Berkeley chapter and does not reflect the views of Her Campus.

The gift of turning 21 in the dearest UC Berkeley for me was realizing that there will always be someone who can make me feel like sh*t.

Here, at the number one public university in the country, there is always someone better. Someone who’s done more. Someone who has a ton of internships, a perfect GPA, double research projects, a better story. And suddenly, even the most harmless questions become terrifying.

“Tell us about yourself.” or “Tell us fun facts about you!”

What do I even say? 

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I love stars? Someone next to me is probably designing the next NASA rocket here.

I travel? Someone has been to twice as many countries. 

I pulled an all-nighter last night? Oh please, this is Berkeley. Who doesn’t?

I’m a foodie? There is someone in a food publication club who knows every restaurant in the Bay Area.

Do I have an accent? There are exchange students who speak five languages and somehow sound effortlessly cool doing it.

I’m insecure about my body? There are people who are thinner, people who are bigger, people who are fitter, people who somehow have figured out how to love their bodies already.

I drink? Someone drinks more.

I don’t drink? Someone is somehow more disciplined.

I struggle? So does everyone else.

Even my weaknesses don’t feel particularly special here. Then I slowly realize that almost every quality I thought made me special can be found in someone else, but better.

“…almost every quality I thought made me special can be found in someone else, but better.”

For a while, I thought the solution was to find something that nobody could beat me at. To become impressive enough that comparison would finally stop hurting. Sadly, there is no such thing. There will always be someone ahead of me, and there will always be someone behind me. 

So by turning 21, I choose the easier path. Instead of trying hard to fight the insecurities everyday, I realize that my life cannot be built around being the best version of something because I will spend my entire life finding evidence that I’m not. Maybe the point is that I’m allowed to be smart without being the smartest. Struggling without having the most difficult struggle. Interesting without having the most interesting story. As long as I try my best and keep going in the direction of my dreams. For the first time, I think I’m starting to understand that a trait doesn’t have to be unique to belong to me. I don’t need to win at being myself, I just need to be myself. I’m glad to realize that early. Happy birthday to me.

Alivia Azzahra

UC Berkeley '28

Alivia is currently a third-year student pursuing a Bachelor of Engineering in mechanical engineering at University of California, Berkeley. Throughout her academic journey, they have developed a strong interest in robotics, with particular focus on wearables technology.

Outside of academics, Alivia enjoys expanding their knowledge through independent learning and exploring new technologies related to their field. She is particularly interested in manufacturing and fashion engineering and continuously seek opportunities to improve both their technical and professional skills. In her free time, she enjoy traveling, photography, music, and volunteering which help maintain a balanced lifestyle and encourage creativity and personal growth.