UC Involvement – Freshmen Alert

I don’t know about you, but my heart was racing when I looked in the mailbox and sitting, waiting was a letter from the UC schools. It took a while to summon the power to open the letter, but the second I read the brief words of admittance I became overwhelmed with a mixture of excitement and relief. I was so excited to start attending a college in the UC system that I have heard about since grade school.

Waiting for the day to start was a little nerve-racking, to say the least. The moment that I stepped foot on the campus, I still had the jitters. I was overwhelmed with all of the new scenery and the need to settle into such a foreign environment. All freshmen are in the same boat, trying to navigate through the deep crevices called life. The immeasurable amount of diversity and the countless amount of options available to you makes it is hard to find a direction that will fulfill you for the remainder of years.  It was not until I started to participate on campus and meet people with similar interests that the college started to earn its name: home.
First of all, there are many activities offered.

Of course, it is not handed to you like it was in high school; no one to hold your hand and walk you step by step. But there are many resources available, like student government or the research labs. True, you may not have the time to dedicate to such a large student population and you must become familiar with the material in order to work in a lab, but do not fret, there are alternatives. If the student body is not for you, then there are clubs. These clubs are geared towards your specific interests and you can determine how much time you will put into them. Clubs are a good way to meet new people that have the same hobbies or interests as you. The freshsem UCSB site is a great resource to help you find your own niche; giving you a better look into that subject you are intrigued by via seminar.

There are events that you can find through a club or through your college. Whether it is a barbeque, forensics competition, or a planned excursion to the local pub, there’s a bucket full of activities. One club takes tours of breweries; some members even brew their own beer. Annually, the Ski and Snowboard Club ends the season with a big bang: a wrestling competition in jello. With such an array of clubs and events that can occupy your days while you attend UCSB, it is easy to get involved.