I transferred to UC Berkeley from community college in Fall 2023 and jumped into Golden Bear Orientation (GBO) as a new student. It was the perfect welcome. I played casino-style games without losing a dime, watched a drag show, ate free food, and even visited a company I was curious about. Most importantly, I met a lot of new people and suddenly the big, scary university wasn’t at all daunting. My orientation leader stood out—calm, funny, and genuinely caring. Watching her made me think, “I want to do this for someone else one day.”
During the school year, I worked as a Campus Ambassador. I learned the history and traditions of UC Berkeley, gave tours, and shared my own Berkeley story with prospective students and their families. That job taught me how to speak clearly, manage time, and read a crowd. It also reminded me why I chose Berkeley: the energy, the community, and the way people here genuinely root for one another.
Because of my work as an ambassador, I was encouraged to apply to be a GBO Leader. When the invite came, I didn’t have to think twice. Even better, I got to lead with a friend. We were assigned a group of transfer students, and it felt like a full-circle moment. I had been in their shoes not long before: nervous, excited, and trying to figure out where everything was. Now I had the chance to guide them through those first few days and make them feel at home.
Training opened my eyes to how much responsibility the Orientation Leaders carry. For five packed days, we were responsible for more than twenty students. We made sure people knew where to go, had enough to eat, and felt included. We planned icebreakers, walked long campus routes, answered the same questions with patience, and adjusted on the fly when schedules shifted. Some moments were loud and busy; others were quiet conversations with a student who felt overwhelmed. I loved the flexibility. We followed the program, but we also had space to make our own memories with the laughs, quick little sit-downs, and inside jokes that made the group feel like a team.
We focused on the little things that matter: learning names fast wherein we even had a game to get through it, and pointing out small campus tips like the best study spot or even where the cleanest restrooms would be. I shared the resources that helped me as a transfer with joining tutoring sessions, student orgs, and places to decompress. Seeing students relax, open up, and start building their circles was the best part.
My two years at Berkeley went by fast. Doing GBO twice, first as a participant and then as a leader, made it feel complete. I arrived as a mentee and left as a mentor. I’m grateful for the opportunities Berkeley gave me and for the growth I’ve had here. Being welcomed, supported, and trusted to lead taught me that community is built moment by moment. GBO gave me that community, and I’m proud I got to give it back.