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Looking Back

I can’t believe this is going to be my last post! It’s been such a crazy fast year filled with ups, downs, and unforgettable moments. I’ll never forget when the fire alarm went off my in hall at 1 AM because someone burned their chicken, or going ice skating at Irvine Spectrum for my friend’s birthday.

My first year at UCI is exactly what I wanted and more. I came in with goals along with fears, but looking back I am thriving here. One of my biggest fears, although it may sound trivial, was not getting along with my roommates because of all the horror stories I’ve heard. I consider myself so incredibly lucky to have Amy and Julia as my roommates because we’re all so considerate and really care about each other. Small moments like when Julia gave me a hand warmer when I went out late to bigger moments like surprising each other on our birthdays (I cried on mine) made any fear of not getting along with my roommates disappear. They’re one of my biggest blessings at UCI and I am so so thankful.

Another goal I had was to get involved because in high school, I was on board for four clubs and I just loved being busy and working with teams to work for something we’re passionate about. It was intimidating coming into UCI where there were already so many people doing just about everything imaginable. Staying involved with Summer Bridge and becoming an intern for VSA helped me expand my circles and find exactly that passion I had in high school. I was one of those annoying people selling Banh Mi and Almond Haus on Ring Road every Wednesday and I loved it. This helped me gain a lot of leadership responsibilities and roles for my second year which I am so excited about! One of them includes interning for Zot Blog, so to my future bloggers, I’ll see you next year!

Family is also super important to me so one goal was to keep in touch with them while dorming at UCI. Admittedly, I’m very blessed to be able to dorm when I live 20 miles away and can go home regularly, but it’s still very different from living at home. It’s weird to see life going on at home when I’m not there. When I go home on the weekends, my sister tells me everything I missed and it can be a little saddening knowing I missed it. I still do keep in touch with my family, but it’s not the same because we’re all so busy but this is part of life. For those going far from home, this might be a hard transition, but your families are just a call away!

Coming to college, I met some of the most amazing people, learning about things like their passions, career aspirations, and favorite memes. Meeting these people opened up my world view and helped me be happy and outgoing. One moment where I realized UCI is the best place for me was when I had a heart to heart conversation with my friend Amy in the dining hall. In the middle of the busy dining hall, we talked about topics so dear to our hearts that we cried. In that moment, I realized if I didn’t go to UCI, I probably would have never met Amy and that’s not a world I wanted to be in.

I also grew academically, going from completely undeclared, finding out I don’t like Biology, and finally choosing Business Economics and Social Policy and Public Service. Looking back, committing was scary, but UCI was the right choice for me because I am so happy and fulfilled with the people I’ve met, the things I’ve learned, and who I am becoming.

Being a part of Zot Blog was also a big part of my year. I loved working with Brandon, Josh, and Lauren to create this blog for you guys to read and really get an inside look into our lives. Honestly, my favorite part is going to meetings because I get to see all of them. It’s refreshing to take a break and update each other about what’s going on, especially when we walk together after meetings. Here’s a picture of us after our Canes hangout 🙂 

Now that’s my first years over, I’m really looking forward to next year regardless of how stressful it’s looking to be. I’ve taken on a lot of leadership positions including Internal Vice President of VSA, TRIO Scholars Peer Mentor, and Global Connect Intern on top of a job at my high school and commuting. My goal is to simply survive, giving my all to each position, while not burning out and taking care of myself. Wish me luck guys! But for you guys, don’t be afraid to be undeclared. It doesn’t mean you’re below everyone else and you definitely have the chance to explore which is great if you don’t know what you want to major in. I am a living, breathing, UU success story and I’m more than willing to answer any questions you guys may have!

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Zot Snaps

Not quite selfies, but I’ve been really busy with midterms so here are some pictures from earlier in the year. UCI is such a unique school with its own campus culture, showcased in our love for Harold and Maude, the cutest duck couple ever, or our campus wide good luck charm, Swagman. Finishing up my first year, here are some of my zot snaps, showing off special parts of our UCI culture.

Infinity Fountain

The infinity fountain, located near Rowland Hall, is really pretty and used for graduation photos a lot! Fun fact: when I was on campus during Summer Bridge, my friend Carmen and I could not find this fountain. If you’re looking for it, walk along the edge of Aldrich Park and you’ll see it.

These pictures are from Summer Bridge when my friends and I stepped into the fountain before our freshman year, fulfilling a tradition for good luck. The people you go into the fountain with are believed to be your best friends throughout college. Then, before you graduate, you’re supposed to go in again, like a symbolic way of ending your time at UCI.

I would totally recommend going in, but be careful because I’m not sure if we’re allowed to? Also the water actually goes pretty high so wear shorts and I’m warning you in advance that your feet may turn blue from the paint at the bottom of the fountain. That’s not quite something anyone told me but now you guys will know!

Aldrich Park

This picture is during one of the Vietnamese Student Association meetings, led by yours truly and all the other interns. It was Way Back Wednesday, so we used Aldrich Park’s spacious fields and inviting atmosphere to play childhood games like Duck Duck Goose and Red Light, Green Light. Aldrich Park is definitely an iconic part of UCI. It’s right in the middle of the school which makes it nice to cut across to get to classes. Many people also nap in the park by laying down blankets or hanging up hammocks between the trees. It’s also a really nice place to have a picnic! That’s still on my UCI checklist because I wanted to have one Friday but it was rainy?

Seaside Donuts

Not on campus, but definitely part of UCI’s foodie culture. This donut shop is in Newport Beach, about 10 minutes from campus. It’s a really common after event for club meetings and just all around great spot to hang out. The donut shop is open 24/7 and for some reason, it’s so much better at night. I’ve never really seen people go in the morning, but at night, it’s crawling with hungry college students, looking for a bite to eat. I would recommend the ham and cheese croissant warmed up with a green thai iced tea on the side. It’s two of their most popular items and you’ll see why once you have them! This picture is blurry because it’s actually a polaroid from one of my roomie dates at Seaside. You definitely have to go to Seaside as a UCI student, it’s part of the culture.

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Summer Bridge

 

Summer Bridge is by far one of the most amazing programs I have ever been a part of and I would highly recommend it to any incoming UCI freshman. It’s a program specifically for first generation, low income students to get adjusted to living on campus and taking college classes. Participants get to take two college classes, Bridges to Success and the Making of Modern Science, that covers one GE, to get used to the fast pace and rigor of college classes on the quarter system. These classes were super beneficial to me the eight units, boosted me up to sophomore standing, resulting in an earlier registration window which meant a better schedule and better professors. It also helps that every Summer Bridge student takes the same classes so you can talk to your housemates about the assignments and work together to succeed.

One of the best parts about Summer Bridge is that it is completely free, making it possible for low income, first generation students to make the most of their college experience, without worrying about the cost. Everything is covered from the housing in Arroyo Vista to tuition for the classes. It even includes $450 zot bucks to cover food throughout the summer and a bus pass to get to and from campus. These benefits also extend beyond the program, following you throughout your freshman year. During the year, there are still workshops that work on skills like time management and talking to professors where you can gain skills to excel in college. You also get a peer mentor to help you throughout the year with any questions you may have and a group to bond with. In addition to a peer mentor, you also have a personal guide, either Tamekya or Janet, that checks up on you once a quarter to support you and make your transition smooth. Other benefits during the year include free LARC (usually $110 each quarter), a free book loan program, the opportunity to rent chromebooks, and access to free writing tutors. Summer Bridge offers so many benefits and provides amazing support to its students. But by far, building community is one of the most important parts of Summer Bridge for me.

Moving away and starting college is challenging enough, but when you are a first generation, low income student, it is so easy to feel out of place without a sense of community. Everyone in the program comes from similar socioeconomic backgrounds which makes it easy for you to relate to each other. A majority of people I met were very down to earth and humble due to where they have come from and share many of my values because we realize how lucky we are to have the opportunity to go to college. Because of this, it’s so easy to build a genuine relationship with other students in the program and have a support system that understands many of the issues you may face. This extends to the staff as well, everyone is really adamant about helping you succeed and wants you to do well. This support has gotten me through so much during this first year and I am eternally grateful for this program, hoping to do anything I can to give back to future Summer Bridge Students.

Thanks to Summer Bridge, I was able to ease into college better and get a head start. It helped me to build a community of support that I can relate to and confide in. Additionally, I have so much support from the additional resources available to me through Bridge along with connections to other programs like TRIO! Incoming freshmen: please sign up for Summer Bridge and do not miss this amazing opportunity!u

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Spring Quarter Swing

Spring break felt so well deserved after the stressful winter quarter. This year was the first time my siblings and I had different spring breaks so it was so weird and sad being at home by myself. I went back to visit my high school and I was overcome with some much nostalgia. When I visited, it was the international assembly so I got to see all the performances and be reminded of how lucky I am to grow up in such a diverse community. I really missed high school after that. My high school friends and I finally got to catch up now that most of us were home for spring break. Please cherish the time you have with your high school friends and high school experience because in college, you may not have them with you. One week was definitely enough because I get bored pretty quickly and couldn’t wait to get back to school and be with my friends all the time. Pro tip: please prepare for the quarter during your breaks! Read through your syllabi and block out your schedule. Know what to expect for each class and get notebooks for your classes because I regretted not doing this. I tried to buy college ruled composition books the morning of, and it was a disaster. I went to the UTC Target, the District Target, and Walmart and there were no college ruled notebooks, only wide ruled. It was a disaster, so please avoid this if you can!

Spring quarter is a new quarter and I’m really excited and nervous for my last quarter of freshman year. I’m really looking forward to Vietnamese Culture Night (VCN) because I’ll be performing with the Traditional Dance (Trance) group to showcase our culture and tell our story. It’s one of VSAUCI’s biggest events of the year so I am so excited to be a part of it. If you can, please come out on May 6th to support us! I really want to take advantage of my last quarter living on campus and continue having the time of my life.

On another note, all UCI acceptances are out. Congratulations to everyone who was accepted and welcome to the Anteater family, especially incoming Undecided Undeclared students! I’m so excited for all of you to join us in the fall and I can’t wait to meet all of you. As a UU student, you definitely have the luxury to explore. My friends in a specific major find it hard to switch out and are often stuck taking classes they dread for a quarter. Being UU, I was able to take Biology classes during fall quarter and completely switch to Business Economic classes during the Winter. Take classes that interest you and things will definitely work out. If you have any questions or need advice, please let me know. I’m more than happy to help! Find me on Facebook or email at nancyd2@uci.edu! Welcome to the family, I’ll see you in the fall!

 

 

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Into Nancy’s Brain

Welcome into my mind! It’s split into six major sections: academics, social life, sleep, food, clubs, and money. Let’s break this down to find out what I spend my time thinking and worrying about.

The top is split into academics and social life, split evenly because this is what I think about the most.

Academics: Academics are the most important thing in my life right now, because I’m in college! I’m here first and foremost to get a good education and give myself opportunities for growth. I dedicate a lot of time and brain power to staying on top of my academics to make sure I do well in my classes and learn the material. College can be fun, but in my opinion, academics needs to be my first priority, which is why it’s the first thing in my brain. This brain power is dedicated to planning out my day and deciding the best way to study among others.

 

Social Life: I am a very big people person and I thrive off other people’s energy! College is a totally different environment with so many new people to meet and I really try to meet everyone. My friends actually make fun of me because it seems like I know everyone. Whenever I walk around campus or I’m eating at the Anteatery, I say hi to a lot of people that I know, even though I don’t even live there! I love meeting new people and spending time to really get to know them so my social life is also really important to me. I dedicate a lot of time maintaining these relationships and checking in on my friends to make sure they’re doing okay. I tend to worry about others, because I genuinely care which fills up a significant portion of my brain.

 

Sleep: Academics and social life rest on top of sleep because sleep is so crucial for me to function. I know a lot of people who can run on three hours of sleep each day, but this is not me. I need at least five hours of sleep to function and succeed in my academics and social life. Without enough sleep, I’m easily irritated and can’t focus, harming both my social life and academics. Sleep is essential. I always do the math when I’m studying to see what time I need to sleep at to get my minimum five hours or plan out naps in the day to fill in the holes. College tip: take naps! Listen to your body when it says it’s tired!

 

Food: It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but I spend a lot of time thinking about when and what I’m going to eat next. Please keep reading so I can explain what I mean! As a busy college student with a lot of clubs and responsibilities, I sometimes forget to eat so I need to think about the next time I have to eat so I can stay energized. Also I love that the dining halls post their menus online so I can see what I’m going to have that day. Sometimes if food at Pippins sounds bad, I’ll plan to walk all the way to the Anteatery for better food. There’s no shame in that. If I’m going to put food into my body, I’d rather have it be something I enjoy eating. I definitely go on the dining hall website more than I should.

 

Clubs: Club meetings are so hard for me to remember if I don’t go consistently because it’s not set in my schedule so I often have to try and remember them. Especially with Trance (Vietnamese Traditional Dance), the practices tend to change so I need to really be on top of it and make sure I don’t miss practices. Some brain power is used to remember the choreography too since I’m pretty forgetful. As an intern, I also need to help come up with new ideas for after events or improvements for future events!

 

$$$: College is expensive. It’s so easy to go out all the time with UTC right there or spend all your money buying food on ring road, but I’m always thinking about how to save money and not spend it unless I need to or it’s a special occasion. I have the dining hall with food I already paid for so I really try to avoid going out and spending money because I feel like I’m wasting the food I already paid for. Also, I always try to save money when I can by using Cartwheel at Target! I would highly recommend it!

 

There’s so many things to think about and keep track of during college, but these are my main six!