When I first arrived at UC Berkeley, I felt like I was floating in an ocean of strangers. Everyone seemed to have their own groups, their own communities, their own sense of belonging. I thought I knew what I wanted: a group of people who looked like me, thought like me, and shared my background. It felt safer that way, comfort in the familiar. However, in hindsight, that was just my fear talking.
Becoming a tour guide changed everything.
When I first stepped into my role, I was nervous. I worried I wouldn’t “fit in” with my fellow guides or that I wouldn’t have the right kind of personality for the job. If anything, from day one, I realized I was stepping into a space filled with people from all walks of life. My coworkers were studying majors I had never even imagined would be in this job: public health, astrophysics, theater. Additionally, each of them had completely different stories about how they got to Berkeley. Some were first-generation students like me, while others came from families with a long history of attending college. Some had traveled across the country, others from across the world.
Leading tours introduced me to an even wider spectrum of people. I’ve met high school students whose eyes light up when they hear about our student organizations. I’ve spoken to parents who never went to college but are determined to give their kids opportunities they never had. I’ve met prospective students who already speak three languages, and others who are still learning English. I’ve walked with families who could fly here for the day without thinking twice about the cost, and with others who saved for years to visit.
At first, the diversity felt overwhelming… how could I possibly relate to everyone? However, slowly, I realized that the beauty of this job is not about being the same. It’s about finding connections in the differences. Every person I meet carries a story, and those stories have taught me more about the world than any lecture or textbook could.
It’s also made me look at myself differently. I used to think my background was something that might set me apart in a way that made me “different” from everyone else. Nonetheless, as I’ve listened to others, I’ve realized that everyone is “different” in their own way, and those differences are what make a community stronger. My story matters just as much as theirs… and theirs matter just as much as mine.
Being a tour guide has taught me to be more open-minded, more curious, and more grateful. I’ve learned that I don’t need to be in a group of people just like me to feel like I belong. In fact, belonging isn’t about sameness… it’s about mutual respect, listening, and celebrating what makes each person unique.
When I walk backwards on campus now (yes, tour guides really do that), I’m not just telling people about UC Berkeley’s history or academic programs. I’m showing them a piece of the community that embraced me, differences and all. I’m giving them a glimpse of the space I’ve found for myself… one that’s not defined by walls or labels, but by the people who fill it.
And every time I finish a tour, I’m reminded that I’m lucky. Lucky to work alongside people who challenge me to think bigger, lucky to hear stories that inspire me, and lucky to be part of something that constantly pushes me to grow.
I came to the University of California at Berkeley searching for people who were “just like me.” I stayed because I found something better: people who weren’t… and that’s exactly what I needed!