Blue and gold worth the wait

As cliche as it may sound, I have always wanted to go to UCLA. Sadly, I knew I did not have the grades for it when I was in high school. And it was depressing knowing everyone else was experiencing “normal” college lives while I was stuck at home going to community college. Everyone was growing and I wasn’t.

I did not want to become one of those community college students who never leaves. So when I started community college, my mantra was “Oohcla, Oohcla.” There was no other option. My fear of not getting into UCLA weighed on me.

De Anza College wasn’t all that bad. It was a great experience, and I learned a lot. It better prepared me for my dream school.

During my first year here at UCLA, I encountered so many amazing people. The doors of opportunity opened for me.

I saw former President Bill Clinton speak. I was so close to Sen. Barbara Boxer when she spoke at a conference I could touch her. And I even shook the hand of potential presidential candidate John Edwards at our very own Kerckhoff Hall.

This is pretty exciting for someone who is a political science student. This was all at UCLA. Did I mention that one of my professors was former presidential candidate Michael Dukakis? Now, how many people can say that?

Before I came to UCLA, I wondered if I was going to fit in. But after the first day, those fears were gone. I met all kinds of different people, and my roommate and suitemates were great. Living in the dorms was the best decision I ever made.

Also, the insecurity of not being up to par with other students disappeared as well. I always heard professors and people saying, “UCLA would not have accepted you if they didn’t think you could handle it.” That did not comfort me, because I assumed they told that to everyone to make them feel better about themselves.

I thought people would judge me for being a transfer student, but when I told people, nobody cared that I was a transfer. This was a relief to me, especially when I thought the people who got into UCLA as freshmen were superhuman.

I did not feel like I did not belong. It was actually the opposite. I have never felt more welcome, and I have never felt I fit in at a place so well.

That does not mean I am like everybody else and that is why I had a great transition. It is because I have learned at UCLA that there really is no norm. We are all different, and if I put in 100 percent, I will get something good back.

Opening yourself up to good opportunities will make a big difference. This year, I stepped out of my comfort zone of not ever dancing and completed the 26 hours of Dance Marathon.

I feel like I have a real place at UCLA. I can say this has been one of the best years I have had in a very long time. I have learned so much and met so many great individuals whom I know I will be friends with for a long time.

After this first year, I can be proud to say, “I am a UCLA Bruin,” and I can’t wait for next year.

Zaidi is a third-year political science student. She is spending her summer in Washington, D.C.

Leave a comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *