Doing nothing but school work 24/7 can be a drag on your mental and social life. That's why it's important to get involved outside of your Chem 1A and Math 1B classes. Berkeley is great because it offers so many enrichment opportunities, whether it be internships, clubs, or sports.
I'm currently involved with a Christian fellowship on campus called ICA (In Christ Alone, formerly known as the Navigators). During the week, we have small group, where six or seven sisters meet to have fellowship, dinner, and a Bible study. There is also large group once a week where everyone meets together for worship and a message. Plus, there are a lot of fun activities on the weekends to hang out and get to know everyone else better.
It's a wonderful community to be involved with, and it's really made Berkeley feel like home. And because ICA isn't a very large group, I've gotten to know my fellow brothers and sisters very well. They're basically my family here at school.

I'm also involved with a fraternity on campus called Alpha Phi Omega. It's a co-ed community service fraternity that whose primary focus is leadership, fellowship, and service. I'm currently in the process of pledging. The reason I decided to pledge was because APO offered a wide range of service projects. Because APO has so many projects, it's easier for me to find one that suits my interests and time. I also really like the fact that you can create your own projects, as well as the fact that APO is focused on reaching out to the urban areas and the homeless. It's a great way to do give to others and to do some good for the community.

I'm also involved with ESSA (Environmental Science Student Association). I wanted to be more involved with my major, and I felt ESSA was a good start. Although it's a fairly small group, the people involved are very passionate about what they do. It's a great way to be active in the area of Environmental Science.
So I definitely encourage all of you to be involved outside of your classrooms. Find a group that that shares your interests. It doesn't always have to be an academically related group. And if you have any questions, I'm here on Tuesdays from 9-11am during OH! Come on by!