The past ten weeks of my freshman fall quarter have simultaneously felt like the longest and fastest time of my life. From the stress of moving in, starting college-level classes, and navigating a wholly new environment many miles from home, it’s safe to say that my first quarter at UCLA has been full of new experiences, both good and bad, and has resulted in a plethora of lessons that I will be taking into the rest of the year.
- . Take Advantage Of Resources
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It seems like the most obvious piece of advice to give, but the sheer amount of resources on campus that go unused or undiscovered is tragic. Oftentimes we take things for granted and don’t fully appreciate the perks that come with attending a university.Â
From attending D1 sports games for free to having access to outstanding athletic facilities and free student-run plays and musicals, there is a plethora of free entertainment and activities that wouldn’t be accessible in other places. One of my favorite things to take advantage of at UCLA is Massage Mondays, where students can get free massages during the day. It’s a perfect way to relieve stress and unwind during busy times. I also love that all students get free transit passes and have spent the last quarter exploring L.A with it. Additionally, there is an excess of academic and career resources on campus such as free talks from prominent speakers, clubs, and resources from the Career Center. One of the opportunities that I passed up (which I still regret) was missing out on an event hosted by the UCLA Career Center that drove students to the mall and gave students 45% off professional wear and business clothes.
It’s important to utilize and appreciate the resources given to you because you won’t have them forever.
- . Comparison Is The Thief Of Joy
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For me, one of the hardest things about attending UCLA was the intense amount of imposter syndrome that came with it. I could hardly believe that I got in and after meeting several students at events, was convinced that my acceptance must have been a mistake. Everyone seemed to have done notable projects or started a business straight out of high school and it felt like I was the only one who didn’t have everything together. It took a while for me to learn to give myself grace and to remind myself not to compare myself to everyone around me. It turns out that many people also shared these feelings and after talking to some of my friends about it, I now know that although some people may be incredibly ambitious and accomplished, many people are still in the same boat as me. My fear of being inadequate compared to my peers is what held me back from applying to many different opportunities my first quarter, so going into the rest of the school year I’m committed to reminding myself that I belong here and not letting this fear limit me.
You are your own worst critic and measuring yourself against others’ accomplishments is a recipe for disaster.
- . No One Cares
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Going from a high school graduating class of 60 to an undergrad population of 33,000 was a shocking transition for me when I got to college. I went from a town where everyone knew everything about everyone to knowing absolutely no one and the freedom that came with that was both exhilarating and terrifying. It’s a bit of a hard truth and there are obviously exceptions, but at the end of the day no one really cares what you do. The thousands of people you pass every day most likely won’t remember you, so now is the time to reinvent yourself. Join that activity, sport, or club that you’ve always wanted to try, switch up your style, experiment with a new look, and reinvent yourself if you want to.
Focus on presenting yourself how you want to be perceived in a new environment without the judgments of people from the past.
- . Everything Will Work Out
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Everyone who knows me knows that I’m a chronic worrier. I’m constantly stressed about everything, such as arriving late, my grades, what career path I want to follow, and when my plans end up not happening as I wanted them to. However, this past quarter has shown me that it’s really not the end of the world if things don’t go the way I initially planned. When I first got to college, I had this preconceived idea that I would quickly find my people and have an amazing first few weeks, but this quickly faded away and I was absolutely miserable. However, even if it sounds cliche, you will find your people and luckily I did. It took me a while to find the people that I really clicked with, and although it took time I wouldn’t trade it for the world.
What is meant to happen will happen and although you are in control of many aspects of your life, there is no use worrying yourself sick over the things that you can’t control.