#ucdc

Let’s start with where it all began. Freshman orientation. It was a very hot weekend in the summer of 2014 but I was having a blast. I made new friends in orientation (who I am still friends with today) and I experienced college life in those two days. It was a day full of ice breakers, tons of information, and long walks around campus. I cringe when I look back at myself because I know that 4 years ago, I was so lost. That girl in this photo would be so proud of where I am today and what the next 4 years hold.

Lets jump to my second year of college.  Here I am standing at the tidal basin at Jefferson Memorial in Washington DC. My second year of college, Spring Quarter 2016 to be accurate, I participated in the UCDC program and spent 3 months interning and studying in DC. This moment was special to me because I pretty much chose to go in the spring to see the beautiful cherry blossoms in bloom. I knew that these cherry blossoms were a gift from Japan and I just had to see them (hinting future FBF photo). Washington changed the direction of my life. I finally knew what I wanted to do and gave me professional experience. The friendships were incredible and the city is still one of my favorites. Plus it was my first time away from home (I’m a commuter, first generation, have strict parents, you get the point).

Here I am nervously posing for a photo on my first day as an intern in Washington DC. This was a huge moment for me! I was a second year student in the capital of the country who was starting her first day as a professional intern in the city. That sounds intimidating. Also, the Human Rights Campaign was my dream internship and I got it! I did not want to disappoint. However, this was my first time working in a large organization and I had very little experience.  This organization helped me realize I value helping others and I met crazy inspirational people. I’m still in awe.

While I was in DC I was actually applying for jobs so that I could start working immediately after returning. I was hired at Undergraduate Admissions to help manage Life at UCR and I still feel incredibly lucky. This photo was taken at one of our end of the year banquets and I feel so grateful to have been able to work with an amazing team. This job has been another big event in my 4 years because it's given me incredible experience and allowed me to connect with even MORE inspirational people. Now it has been almost 2 years since I joined the team.

As soon as I came back from DC, I started applying for study abroad in Japan. It was the place of my dreams and everyday that went by I would imagine what it would be like to stand in the streets of Tokyo. Not only did I stand on those streets but I ended up 3776 meters above Japan after climbing Mt. Fuji. I spent 8 hours climbing Fuji and looking at the sunrise pictured above was a moment I will never forget. I had come a long way in my life and at this point I knew I could get through anything if I was persistent enough. I spent 4 months in Japan and I can write 10,000 blogs about it (check out my blog actually).  Japan stole my heart and changed the way I see others and myself (I’m getting emotional just by writing this!)

These are the biggest events with my time at UCR. Although they were all memorable and pleasant, I definitely struggled throughout the process. Not pictured is all the times I had to study for hours and hours, tons of application processes for study abroad and UCDC, the struggles of me applying and interviewing for dozens of jobs and more. It doesn’t all happen so easily. I wish I could include more memories like the time I got my first internship after freshman year, meeting my host family abroad, standing in front of the White House, and attending big concerts on campus with access to the pit! These years have been incredible.

If you want to learn more about these programs or my experiences, let us know in the ask box!