It’s wild to think that I’m in my final year at UC Davis. I still remember move-in day like it just happened: two giant suitcases, two roommates I had never met, and the gut-deep feeling of what now? I was an out-of-state student with zero connections, trying to act confident while secretly wondering if I’d ever feel at home here.
Spoiler: I did. But not in the way I expected.
In between lecture halls and lab reports, I found something better: community.
And for me, it started with tennis.
I tried out for the UCD traveling tennis club team during my first quarter. I had played tennis growing up, but I was always so intimidated to play here in California. You see, tennis in California was always boasted about back home. Talking about better players, better training, and an incredible competitive atmosphere. I knew I had to boost my résumé, network, and whatnot, but honestly, the first thing I wanted to do was just to feel less alone. But it became so much more than that.
Through the club, I found friends who turned into constants. I found joy during weeks that were otherwise packed with midterms and chaos. I found balance, which is something no academic advisor ever really talks about but every student desperately needs.
Here’s what I’ve learned: Focusing on school is important, but it’s not everything.
It’s easy to fall into the trap of treating college like a four-year checklist, you join clubs for your medical school application, internships for your CV, and leadership roles to impress admissions. And yes, those things matter. But so does your mental health. So does having something in your life that’s just for you.
Tennis gave me that space. It helped me stay grounded, stay moving, and stay connected, and not just to others, but to myself. It reminded me that I’m a person first, student second.
Now, as a senior, I keep thinking about how many little choices shaped my time here.
Choosing to go to that random info night that my roommate dragged me to. Choosing to keep showing up to practices despite being terrified of the team. Choosing to go to the team social when I felt pressured to be studying all the time.
If you’re a freshman (or just someone still figuring it out), this is my advice: follow the things that make you feel joyful and whimsical. The clubs that you want to tell everyone about, the people who make you laugh, and the random hobbies that let you forget about school for a minute. Those are the things that made my college experience all the more special.
Because four years go by fast. And in the end, what you’ll remember isn’t the grades. It’s the people. It’s the late-night practices, the inside jokes, the small moments that added up to something big.