Because I always want to have a smile on my face. Whether it is some action will lead to immediate gratification or a decision that will ultimately allow me to reach my goal, I actively make choices that I know will give me joy.
One thing that I have learned since coming to UCLA is that many new doors have opened up for me. All my hard work over the years has served me well, but I am at a new stage now – a chance to get a fresh start. I have a clean slate, and my past achievements certainly don’t define who I am currently; I will need to make use of my past experiences to generate even more accomplishments. I enter the university unwaveringly focused with my academic and professional goals at the forefront of my mind. Yet, I have learned the importance of exploring other areas that are outside of my comfort zone. It makes me happy to realize I actually discover new interests and inspirations every day.
However, the most noticeable change is that I have become a lot more free-spirited and open to trying new things. I have quickly found a close-knit circle of friends, and it is primarily through their influence that I have come out of my shell. Whether it is a spontaneous decision to go to a specific dining hall for their sweet potato fries, or a carefully planned trip to the Rose Bowl decked out in blue and gold to watch the much anticipated football game, I have learned that the personal barriers that I created for myself in the past are unnecessary and misguided. I thought I needed to sacrifice having fun now so I can focus all my energy on working toward my future goals.
Frankly, I was afraid of change. I was worried that if I altered my lifestyle, everything would start falling apart and I would lose everything that I cared about the most, whether it is setting the curve on a difficult exam or, more importantly, making my parents proud. It never occurred to me that minor modifications would not necessarily produce an impact quite as dramatic as I had exaggerated in my imagination.
Perhaps it was only recently that I truly realized the obligations I owe to myself. Indeed, I still strongly believe it is essential for me to work hard now in order to achieve my goals. However, it is unwise to live according to a mentality that is purely focused on the future and virtually disregard the present time.
I see UCLA as the most significant milestone for me so far, not only in terms of academics but also for my own personal development as an individual. It is still unclear to me how I found so many incredible sources of happiness within this community in such a short period of time. All I am certain of is I could not feel as fortunate or have on a brighter smile than at this very moment.
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