The Blockbuster loves to hear from Burroughs grads to check on their life after high school. Here we catch up with 2022 graduate Annika Houck, who transferred to UC Berkeley as a junior to major in Art History after earning multiple associate’s degrees at Cerro Coso.
What is it like being independent?
I’ve enjoyed learning how to build routines and finding the rhythms of life I’m comfortable in. I think it surprised me how the idea of independence was more daunting than it needed to be because I’ve passed milestones in adulthood without even realizing it. And I enjoy the sense of accomplishment gained from following through with plans that take me outside of my comfort zone and strengthen that feeling of independence. Exploring my environment in Berkeley and the Bay Area as well as having the opportunity to study abroad and live and work much farther from home than I had ever been before has given me a newfound confidence, and I have had some incredibly memorable experiences, both on my own and with the people I’ve met.
What activities are you enjoying?
Berkeley has a lot to offer on and off campus and I’ve enjoyed getting to know the area and environment, which are completely different from where I grew up. I’ve been to San Francisco and its art museums, found my go-to spots to study or people-watch, and participated in some campus social events. One of my highlights from my college experience at Berkeley so far was studying abroad last summer, when I spent two months in London for classes and an internship. I had the opportunity to explore a new country for the first time and travel a little bit in Europe. It was an incredible experience for me and I had so much fun being independent, learning and experiencing a new culture.
What advice can you offer prospective college students?
Take advantage of the opportunities that come your way, and always keep in mind that everyone does this part differently. I love being a transfer student at UC Berkeley because I’m seeing that all the people around me got to this place in different ways and will continue their lives in different ways. I struggle with comparing myself to my peers in classes or friends in different fields, but I think it’s important to remember that college and career look different for everyone. I’m very close to graduating from UC Berkeley and am happy with the choices I made, but they were different from the choices nearly all of my friends from Burroughs made and nothing is wrong with that.
What is the best thing about your college or university?
I realized UC Berkeley was the university I wanted to transfer to when I visited the campus for the first time. I was drawn to the school’s architecture and atmosphere. Since becoming a student, I’ve been appreciating Cal’s array of educational and career resources for students, as well as the diverse study body and transfer-student community. I’ve met some very interesting people and gone on a handful of adventures. I’ve had some wonderful professors and taken a few incredibly insightful classes about topics I had never thought about in an academic context before.
What has been the biggest surprise or adjustment?
I felt like I was well-prepared academically for Berkeley as a transfer student and after visiting the campus I already knew the area might take some getting used to after living most of my life in Ridgecrest. I think the biggest adjustment was the sharp increase in my daily step count and the amount of walking involved in attending a university. On a more serious note, the size of Berkeley perhaps took some getting used to because it is a very big school, and it was hard at first to reach out to people and make connections.
