<p>My first semester experience was good. I came to Berkeley as a Gender and Women Studies major and quickly changed to American Studies. I love love love love my major and I am so happy that I had the opportunity to switch. They are pretty easy-go-lucky around here about changing to certain majors within L&S. Academically, I rocked it! I am so pleased with my grades. It’s harder but I found that my classes are really f*ing interesting and that I am willing to work hard for those A’s. I like Berkeley better than my community college experience because it is more critical thinking less b.s. busy work. BUUUUUUTTTTTT… I would say on reflection that I had really low self-esteem my first semester… I felt inferior to everyone else. I am not sure if that is my PERSONAL problem or something that transfer kids feel all of the time… but that was my experience. This is my second semester and I feel much much much more confident in my abilities here. I feel like I am smart and people like me.</p>
<p>Nowww… I am an older transfer student. So I left my fiancee down in SoCal, quit my job and moved up here. It was really f*ing hard. Long distance relationships can maybe kill a person…but I am still alive and we are still together. I was depressed and lonely my first semester. I was lost and I felt like, “wow…why am I here?”</p>
<p>BUT once you get through that feeling of doubt… IT FEELS SO GOOD! I know that I belong here. Any questions, you can pm them to me. I will answer. Bottom line, is that the first semester can really suck…but you will get through it.</p>