Berkeley Graduate...Hopefully(13th of July)

My mum always told me she wants me to go to Berkeley for my graduate program. After checking out their Journalism graduate programs online, I considered it. After going to Berkeley, I became very serious about it. I have a variety of interests from reporting, writing, international affairs, African affairs, documentary making, directing etc and their program fitted the description of the graduate program I was looking for. I was thrilled because I was able to find what I was looking for. As we were walking around the Journalism department, I imagined myself there. After reading their inviting brochures and papers, I realized that I will enjoy being here . After going to the International Student Housing, I felt that I will fit in. There are people like me there, international students who traveled a long distance to study at one of America’s most prestigious universities. I envied them for that but I also prayed for myself to be in their shoes someday. If I wanted to join this program, I had to earn it. As I listened to the different languages in the I-House, I took a mental note that I have to work hard to be able to come here. Walking around campus I noticed that many students were wearing their university t-shirts or sweat shirts. I remembered the first time I purchased an AUC t-shirt and I told my friends about it. They laughed and told me not to dare wear it here. They thought it would be a nice sleep-wear. but I rebelled and went back for more t-shirts a week later. I didn’t see how it’s embarrassing to wear the AUC t-shirt. I know it’s not Prada, Gucci or even Ralph Lauren but it doesn’t only represent AUC to me. It represents my gratefulness to my parents because of being able to go to AUC or being able to pursue higher education at all. Something many citizens of the world only dream about.
Later that day, it was time to shop. San Francisco is a shopping paradise. You can find anything you need and don’t need here. You can spend a whole day in Union Square and not get bored. This trip was the first time I travel alone. Although I was worried that I wouldn’t be able to manage a lot of things, my top worry was not being able to manage large amounts of money. I always took my allowance in the beginning of the month but my parents were always there to give me money if I needed it. Sometimes I didn’t but their presence made me feel comfortable spending large amounts on trivial things. On this trip, I learned the value of money. Not only that, I learned that I receive so much money but I always complain about it although, most families live on this amount for a whole month. I learned that I should buy what I need first then think about what I want. After doing this for a while, I discovered that my necessities are few but my wants are countless. After all, I don’t believe that years from now I will remember the shopping I did. I will remember the things I did. I will remember the experiences, the adventures, exploring new places, talking to people, eating unusual things or even walking around new places. Those are the best things in life, the memories that will always be cherished and remembered no matter what.
I’ve heard this phrase a lot “the best things in life are free”. The best things that happened to me in California were free indeed.