So, you are a Bruin at last and you’re already bored. Alas, such is the fate of many students who are new to the hills of Westwood, as they sit wondering what this school and the city around it have to offer. But don’t fret, there are always the old standards to fall back on, the standard suggestions that, as new UCLA students, you are inevitably going to hear proposed over and over again to fill the free hours of your days in the dorms.
So here are a couple of standard suggestions for you to chew on, a list of things to do around UCLA when you need to take a break. Diddy Riese’s super-cheap ice cream cookie sandwiches make it a popular stop for Bruins strolling the streets of Westwood. And if you’re in the mood for something cold that’s a little bit healthier, then try one of the many frozen yogurt places with fruity names, such as Pinkberry or Red Mango.
If you are in the mood for shopping, then stores such as the wacky costume shop Ahhs, or the more conventional Urban Outfitters, along with other quirky storefronts, lend Westwood a quaint charm that make it perfect for wandering around during the day.
You can also check out the multitude of sporting events that are going on around campus. There’s more to UCLA’s 103 national championships than just football and basketball ““ this school has tons of competitive and nationally ranked teams for you to root for when you’ve got some time to kill.
Perhaps you want to get away from campus. You could take the Big Blue Bus down to Santa Monica for just 25 cents and hang out at the beach. Play Frisbee on the intramural field on campus, climb the rock wall and play some racquet ball in the Wooden Center, catch a movie at the Fox Theater, grab a Frappuccino at Starbucks. The list goes on. These are the standard diversions that your campus and Westwood have to offer, and odds are, you will come to know each of them quite well. After all, Westwood is your city and UCLA is your home, you are bound to spend a lot of time here.
But don’t let these standard suggestions constrain you. You are now a UCLA student, you are on your own, and you are in the driver’s seat, which means you can decide how you want to spend your free time on a Wednesday afternoon or Friday evening. So, here’s my bit of advice: Take with you the suggestions that you think will enrich your college experience, and leave the others behind.
Your experience here at UCLA should be entirely your own. Who wants their college days to be defined by the things others tell them they must do? Half the fun of being a college student is finding these things out for yourself. You should be creating your own experiences, exploring and learning and doing things that you’ve never done.
College is about reaching beyond where you’ve reached before, but it’s also about choosing what it is you are reaching for. You can’t do everything, so what you choose to do, you should strive to make your own.
So, use the “standard suggestions” as starting points for your own adventures. Spontaneity can lead to unexpected places. Take the bus to Santa Monica and miss your stop, start a pick-up game of Ultimate Frisbee against a vastly superior team, or go on that midnight campus adventure because you happen to be bored on a Sunday night. These are the unique experiences spawned from the standard suggestions that can make life at UCLA a social experience to remember; these are some of the moments that you will take with you.
Don’t worry so much about what you have to do, as much as what you want to do. Go see a movie premiere in Westwood, check out the Farmers Market on Sunday morning, go to a few fraternity parties, and participate in the Undie Run, but only if you want to! This is your experience and your life, enjoy it at your own pace.
Make sure to expand your horizons ““ that’s why you’ve come to college, and that is what UCLA is here for ““ but do it on your own terms. Avoid boredom by trying out the tried and true activities of Westwood that everyone tells you you’ve “got to do,” but do it for yourself. Become a part of this fantastic community, but do it in your own unique way. No one is judging you here, and if they do, then they don’t fully understand what UCLA is all about.
So in the spirit of my advice so far, take this article for what it’s worth. Feel free to accept its advice or put it behind you. You can make the choices now. Welcome to UCLA. Now start shaping your life.
E-mail Fitzpatrick at cfitzpatrick@media.ucla.edu. Send general comments to viewpoint@media.ucla.edu.