What UCSB taught me

As my senior year at UCSB winds down, I thought it was only appropriate to share the lessons I have learned during my time at UCSB. I look back and can see a completely different person, coming to the US fresh out of Dubai for an exciting new start in Santa Barbara. I had no idea what these years would entail, but UCSB has made me the person I am today and I could not be more grateful, so here’s a few things UCSB has taught me:

            1. How to prioritize mental health

One of the most common things you hear about UCSB is that it’s known to be a huge party school. Coming from abroad, the last thing I wanted was to waste my years just partying and not focusing on what I want to do in my future. One of the most important things I have learned from UCSB is that a balance between work-time and play-time is crucial to keep your mental health in mind. UCSB can be stressful, it’s definitely not a walk in the park like its “party reputation” would entail, and so it’s important to integrate self-care whenever it's overwhelming or whenever missing home gets tough. Simply walking on the beach or watching the skies turn a magical mix of purple, pink and orange at sunset makes all the difference to catch a quick breath of fresh air. 

2. How to study efficiently and collaboratively

On the note of working hard at UCSB, people take their academics seriously, but are also more than willing to help out others. It truly is a culture of kindness. I’ve found myself making the library practically my second home to keep me motivated. I’m surrounded by people working just as hard, keeping me in check, and discussing topics to stimulate further thought. Even when I hear conversations about my major classes, I don’t shy from  hopping right into the conversation, because people are always willing to help and work together. With the quarter system making things so fast-paced it’s important to keep organized and responsible so it doesn’t pile up. 

3. How to value education

In general, international students who go abroad for university have either undergone a more rigorous high school curriculum or are driven by a higher pressure. I had to travel 8321 miles, just to have a 12-hour time difference from home, a higher tuition and no direct family close by. That in itself is a lot of pressure, now add schoolwork. There is a certain value on education when you have been given the privilege of studying in the US, and therefore I do not treat my classes lightly. I love attending lectures and sections because I’m given the opportunity to learn about whatever interests me and essentially formulate my interests. More importantly, taking the time to talk to professors and TAs, whether that be participating in discussions, asking questions, or going to office hours even if just to introduce yourself, is an opportunity to take full advantage of education. They have so much life knowledge to offer, which to me is just as important as the textbook concepts I learn about.

4. How to explore

Santa Barbara is in the perfect spot: a quaint little city with just enough to do during the week, a two-hour drive from LA to spend the weekends, or a PCH coastline drive with some of the most breath-taking views all the way up to San Francisco. California offers endless places to explore, especially with a group of friends! Whenever any of my local friends say they’re going home for the weekend, or want to go on a weekend trip, I’m the first one to join in because exploring keeps me lively! Instead of sitting at my desk, I could be sitting on San Diego’s unreal beaches or even in a totally different state during holidays. Santa Barbara is a cozy home, but pushing yourself to do new things and explore is something that has made my university experience unforgettable. 

            5. How to be empathetic

I think what I expected UCSB to be like and the culture shock I faced initially really made me skeptical about my happiness at UCSB. However, over time I learned to accept and, rather than hold on to what I was taught growing up in a different country, immerse myself in the local culture I was able to open my mind up to be more empathetic and understanding. I was exposed to belief systems and opinions that were fundamentally different than mine, however viewing that as “wrong” only built a barrier for me to assimilate. Everyone grows up in different settings, exposed to different things, thus formulating their mindset differently. In this sense, there is no right or wrong, rather I found it interesting to open up my mind and understand why they thought the way they did. Whether I agreed or not, it was this kind of discourse that enabled me to become more open-minded and see more diversity in this world. 

6. How to value friendship

Knowing that I would eventually move back home to Dubai, or at the very least go home for holidays, I learned to value my friendships in a new light. The friends you make in university are people you practically live with, study with, eat with and hence spend every second of your day with. You grow alongside them and formulate your outlook on life and education in conjunction with them, which is a phenomenal thing. The friends I made spanned from so many different cultures, but pushing myself to meet new people, not just people who reminded me of the Middle East, enabled me to make friends all around the world that I know I will have for life. 

Thank you UCSB for teaching me things beyond text-book knowledge and showing me the most adventurous, bright, colorful life!