Graduation

Pre-Graduation Ceremony

Graduating SBCC this last Friday was a bittersweet moment. I'm happy to be moving on to the next chapter of my life, but it's hard saying goodbye to friends, former teachers, and just about everything else SBCC has to offer. The commencement ceremony was a nice way to end things: from walking side-by-side with my closest friends, listening to the inspiring guest speakers, getting called on stage and shaking hands with our school's president, to hugging my former teachers as I walked out of the stadium. All of these things helped me realize how fortunate I am to have had such an incredible experience. I couldn't ask to have spent the last three years of my life in any better place! I'm so grateful for the opportunities this school has provided me with and can confidently say that coming to SBCC has been the best decision of my life thus far. This is unfortunately my last blog post as a SBCC Student Blogger so I would like to thank all my readers for staying with me over this last year. It has been an honor sharing my experiences with all of you!!!

Had a full stadium to watch us graduate! 

Only Transcripts Will Tell

Dear Semester,

Why must our relationship always be so arduous. It pains me to exert so much effort while you do so little to reciprocate my time and dedication. Despite my compelling arguments and sound reasoning you always seem to be right, and me in the wrong. I thought I knew you, but you have been tremendously unforthcoming this last week. Your lack of communication has left me guessing where we stand, and what has become of our 16 week relationship. I'm writing this letter to inform you that we are done! The stunt you pulled this morning was the last straw! No longer will I stand by and let you rob me of a good night's rest or a meaningful social life. Maybe someday we can be friends, but I suppose that depends on how you respond to me over these next few days. If you so choose to bring good news, I may find it in me to forgive you. However, I must insist that we never again engage in such intimate relations. The next move is yours...

I've attached some photos of the things my friends and I have gone

through to uphold our end of this relationship. 

- Austin 

  

UCLA Bruin Day

Each tent had info on a particular club, campus resource, organization, department etc...

I may have lost an entire day of studying for finals, but yesterday I decided to drive down to UCLA for Bruin Day. This was an all day event designed to inform transfer students about the various resources and organizations that UCLA has to offer. There were multiple info sessions, faculty lectures, campus tours and Q&As with current UCLA students who were also transfers. Not only did I learn about some really great programs this school has to offer, but it was also really awesome meeting a bunch of other transfer students. I had been unsure about what to do for housing next year, but I finally made a decision after checking out my options and hearing from other transfer students. I decided to live in the transfer dorms next year for a few reasons: they are on campus so I'll be close to everything, and the dorms are also a great way to meet other transfer students. Overall, I'm really glad I went down there yesterday! I may have to pull some late nights studying to make up for lost time, but it's totally worth it. I also stopped by the campus store and decked myself out with some new UCLA gear! I'll most likely be sporting them around next time you see me.

Nerding Out

I can't believe I haven't blogged about this yet! I'm not sure if other people share the same excitement over whiteboards as I do (most likely not), but they're one of my favorite study aids. Unfortunately dry-erase boards can be expensive. So rather than spending a ton of money I found the next best thing. Home Depot has this white surface called "Thrifty White Hardboard Panel Board" that is only $15 for a 32 sq. ft. piece. I told them the dimensions I wanted and they cut it for me in the store. I used double stick velcro to hang a 4'X5' piece on one of my walls and I also lined the top of my desk with it, as you can see in the photo below. All this for a fraction of what it would've cost to get a name brand dry-erase board. I unfortunately couldn't find any photos, but when my whiteboards aren't covered with organic chemistry reactions my roommates never fail to draw or write something that provides comedic relief. 

My home desk. If you look close enough you can see my dead bonsai tree, airborne (can't be gettting sick with finals coming up), and several other random things. It's great having a desk that doubles as a whiteboard! 

A snapchat my friend took while I was measuring out the dimensions of my desk

Got My First Internship!

The good news has been pouring in lately; I recently found out that I landed a summer internship! My internship involves spending about 25 hours a week shadowing a psychiatrist. I'll be learning about prescribing psychotropic medications and how to work with people who have mental health needs. I'm also going to be working with the med support services administration to help process the paperwork that supports the psychiatrist. This isn't a paid internship, but I really don't mind since it's the experience that I'm interested in. I'm an aspiring psychiatrist so this will be an awesome opportunity for me to gain some insight into this line of work. It's a long road to becoming a psychiatrist but this is definitely a great milestone for me. My internship is only about an hour commute from my hometown so I'm excited to be living at my parents house for a few months. I haven't spent more than three weeks back home since I've graduated high school so it will be nice spending time with my family and friends. It's hard to top summertime in Santa Barbara but I'm confident Santa Cruz will be able to compete. Both of the photos below are taken in places that are within 20 minutes of my house so I really get the best of both worlds: awesome beaches and incredible redwood mountains!

Eagle Rock is one of my favorite lookout spots in the Santa Cruz Mountains. It's a short hike from the main road, and the tower hidden behind the tree used to serve a fire lookout since this is one of the highest peaks in the area.  

This is "Its Beach" located on the westside of Santa Cruz. 

UCLA Here I Come!

Seeing this letterhead marked the happiest day of my life thus far! I came to SBCC with goals of transferring to UCLA, and now I'm proud to say that my dream school has become my reality! It's great knowing that all my hard work over the last few years has paid off. I will be majoring in Psychobiology and I can't wait to start taking upper division classes! It's always nerve-racking moving to an unfamiliar place and starting something new, but I'm confident that my time at SBCC has prepared me for just about anything and that I'll excel wherever I go. I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunities SBCC has provided me with over the last three years! I may now be a Bruin, but I'll forever be a Vaquero!

One Last & Final Class at SBCC

I was under the impression I had completed all the general education classes required for an associates degree; however, after talking with an academic counselor I realized that I need to take one more class. I'm still able to participate in the graduation ceremony this May, but ended up having to enroll in one last class at SBCC before I transfer. Once completed, I will receive an associates degree in Chemistry, Biology, and a Liberal Arts A.A in Science and Math. This is the first Summer that SBCC is offering two different sessions, which is great for people who wanna finish up some classes. Despite being the poster boy for Summer Session 2, I decided to enroll in session 1 and will be taking "History and Appreciation of Rock and Pop Music" online since I'll be spending my Summer back home in Santa Cruz.

It's pretty funny seeing this poster of myself and fellow blogger, Hannah, all around campus. Apparently postcards were also sent out to the Santa Barbara area so don't be surprised if you get a picture of me in the mail! I guess the message to take away from this blog is to enroll in Summer classes, if necessary, and make sure you have completed all your required classes (hopefully before graduation) so you don't end up in my position.