Like Sorrel
College Chronicles at UCSC: Week 1 Fall Quarter
Walking through the redwoods during my first week at UC Santa Cruz, I noticed the carpet of green that stretches across the forest floor, redwood sorrel. At first glance, it looks delicate, its shamrock-shaped leaves sparkly with dew and are interwoven with needles.
But sorrel is resilient; it thrives in the deep shade of giants, quietly adapting and flourishing in places where little light reaches. In many ways, I feel like sorrel right now: new, small, and just beginning to take root in at UCSC, but learning to unfurl, adapt, and grow in the environment around me.
It is officially the end of week one of the Fall Quarter here at the University of California Santa Cruz (UCSC) and I am thrilled to share my journey so far.
Move-in was perhaps one of the most stressful experiences of my life. With parents scattered all over, a 15 minute unloading window, lost students looking close to tears, wandering turkey, squirrels, and deers, we definitely had our work cut out for us. After a couple hours, I met my two lovely roommates, organized my space and headed out for a send-off dinner with my parents.
The next few days were filled with exploring the incredibly beautiful campus I now call home. I walked around almost all ten colleges, taking in the views, community spaces, and different amenities and resources available for students.
I very quickly discovered both libraries: Science & Engineering Library and McHenry Library. My favorite thus far has been the breathtaking and modern Science & Engineering Library. With three floors and various areas for both quiet and group studying, this library has quite possibly the most beautiful views on campus for studying/work.
Arguably, C9 and JRL (my residential college affiliation) has the best dining hall on campus. The food so far has been delicious, featuring vegan and vegetarian options every meal. It is also complete with a deli bar, which is perfect for me and my absolute adoration of sandwiches. I have also even had the opportunity to try new cuisines.
Being in a new city also means learning how to navigate transport. Very quickly I had to get a handle on the bus system here as I explored downtown Santa Cruz with friends. There are so many interesting shops, unique thrift spots, and beautiful bookstores.
In addition to being a full time student, I am also working part-time as a Hotline Counselor for Buckelew Programs. I have officially begun training which means that I am taking time each day to work through modules on fundamentals and essential skills in crisis counseling. One of the most interesting facets of training I have found so far is the interdisciplinary approaches to this field of clinical application. My trainings take into account socio-cultural factors like a client’s cultural/economic/racial background in ways that greatly enrich my knowledge on the topic.
I am also now officially trained in the following areas:
Identification of Response to Child Abuse and Neglect
Identifying and Addressing Older and Dependent Adult Abuse
HIPPA: Privacy Rule
And much more…
So far I have greatly appreciated the opportunity to add to my clinical repertoire of skills and build out a deeper understanding of the crisis response network on the national level.
As an ambitious student, I have already dove head first into major and academic planning. So far, I have settled on the double major of Intensive Psychology and Global and Community Health (GCH). In my research, I came across so many wonderful opportunities and incredible mentors ready and more than willing to help out in any and all capacities.
I am especially looking forward to expanding my knowledge of the subject of psychology, all the unique subfields it holds, and opportunities for research. I have already met and spoken with a few incredible professors that have inspired me even more as I head down this academic/career path.
I’m especially grateful to Dr. Phil Hammack whose guidance and research in Sexuality and Gender studies have been both inspiring and encouraging as I think about where I want to go next. I feel really fortunate to have had the chance to share some of my ideas with him, and I’m looking forward to seeing what comes next.
Next, I have had the pleasure of being welcomed into the GCH Department by Professor Laura Bugg, ThD. Professor Bugg was kind enough to meet with me to discuss my work, the GCH major, and opportunities for collaboration. She connected me to the UCSC Journal of Social Medicine which I am planning to pursue. I also discovered an incredible club, UAEM, thanks to President Leah Rilat.
In my free time, I’ve been making an effort to keep up with all my hobbies. I have officially started a junk journal for college.
Junk journaling is a creative hobby that involves making personalized journals using repurposed materials like old papers, tickets, and other items that might be considered “junk.” It allows for artistic expression and self-reflection without strict rules, making it a fun and sustainable way to document life and memories.
I used the materials that I got from our club/student org/resource fair called Cornucopia to create two separate collages. One features our satire newspaper Fish Rap and the other features all the miscellaneous stickers and papers I collected while walking booth to booth.
I also decided to create “mood board/visualization” collages for each of my binder dividers for my classes. I selected a main color to use that I could also implement through highlighters and post-its while in class:
Some of my biggest highlights of week one have been:
Finding psychology books for free
The first rain on campus
Yummy sandwiches and boba
My primary focus during this quarter is to hone my academic skills: mainly in studying, taking comprehensive notes, building relationships with Professors/TAs, and test/quiz strategies. I have dedicate a large chunk of my time each day to review, test new methods, and prepare for classes.
I am also embarking on the process of introducing my campaign for LGBTQIA+ mental health—Break the STIGMA—to UCSC. This journey will include various partners and mentors ranging from on campus programs to professors and graduate students. I hope to bring my skill set and the resources I have prepared to aid the student body here at UCSC.
And that’s a wrap on Week 1 of Fall Quarter!
Stay tuned for my next post.
