Cal Me Graduated!
I journaled out how I’ve been feeling post-grad and what I’ve learned over the past four years. I hope it inspires you to put yourself first!
If I could tell my younger self one thing, it would be this: it’s possible to graduate with honors from the #1 public university in the nation while still prioritizing well-being. Of course, academics are important, but I’ve become a strong believer that success stems from happiness.
I earned some of my best grades during an extremely busy semester—I was taking organic chemistry, volunteering, teaching a class on happiness, working at the yoga studio, and ya know, having a social life. On top of all this, I signed up on a whim for yoga teacher training six days before it started. Masked by the voice telling me that I’m working way too much, was a voice telling me that there will never be a perfect time to dive deeper into my yoga practice. Doing all the yoga all the time actually helped me balance everything else. I felt grounded on and off of my mat, and worked very efficiently because I knew I would be at the studio from 5:30-10 PM. This meant I was drawing organic chemistry mechanisms in sociology, but hey, it all worked out.
As I continued my journey at Berkeley, I embraced this mindful mindset even more. I became head facilitator of a student-run happiness class and had waitlists of around 400 students each semester. As it became one of the most popular classes, I grew even more committed to my own happiness journey. I developed my current habits, such as meditating every morning, exercising daily, setting weekly intentions, and journaling every night.
Your favorite Orange County girl also grew a little more street smart. I had to deal with challenges that arise from living in a bigger city—being followed at night, having my laptop stolen out of my hands, and my personal favorite, not getting lost on BART. These hurdles increased my resilience and confidence. Catch me walking down city streets at 20 mph with RBF.
I also realized that we create our perception of time. I used to think that I was too busy to weave personal activities into my day, like watching the sunset or grabbing a salad bowl at Sweetgreen. Then, I realized that these barely take any time, and they would always make it into my gratitude journal. Time is a choice. Nobody ever has enough time—it’s about making time for those things that give you life. By letting self-prioritization be the root of all experiences, we invite growth and success to branch out into all areas of our lives.
Lastly, this experience wouldn’t have been complete without all the beautiful friends I met along the way and those at home who unconditionally support me. Thank you, thank you, thank you. I love you all and can’t wait to be your future doctor as I embark on this next adventure!
