Waking up the first day of the program, I was filled with many emotions. The two most prominent ones being nervous and excited. The thought of traveling across the country without my family was a scary thought, but I was beyond excited to start my summer at UCLA. I spent the morning traveling through security lines at the airport wondering about all of the different people I would encounter within the next five weeks. By the time I reached the UCLA campus, I felt right at home. The warm weather, the pulsing of music, and the smiling faces of the Summer Discovery staff put my nerves at ease. I felt right at home as soon as I stepped foot into our dorm, Hedrick Hall. The first day was overwhelmingly full of new faces, happy smiles, and the cultures of people all around the world coming together. Throughout the day, many buses were unloaded full of students and many, many suitcases filled with little pieces of all of our homes. The first two days being at UCLA felt like a whirlwind. There were so many places to be, so many people I wanted to meet, and so many things to do. All of the organized chaos of the first two days were equally matched with curiosity and pure excitement. During the first week, the beginning of classes also occurred. The college enrichment courses are used to help the students open their minds to learning and there is also a possibility that these classes could be the gateway to what we want to do with our lives in the future. The most interesting part of the first week at UCLA was realizing how diverse this program really is. I learned that many people have traveled to UCLA from near and far. Many of the students attending this program are from many different states, countries and continents which allows us as students to see the difference between American culture in comparison to the culture of many other places around the world. I am excited to see what is in store next...
Student Blogger: Raquel