Hello there! My name is Joshua, and I am a current senior at Cal. I went into college not really knowing what I wanted to do, and through my experiences and some guidance from friends found a real passion for being premed and studying psychology. I love playing music, exploring all of the Bay Area from its cities to its natural parks, cooking, procrastinating (sometimes), and trying to make the most of my time with close friends.

Hometown

Orange County, California

Major(s)

Psychology

Clubs, organizations & involvement

UC Berkeley Violinist and Pianist (UCBPO, TIO), Student Government Mental Health Executive Director (Associated Students of the University of California), Hospice Volunteer + Musician (Suncrest), Psychology Department Health Worker (UHS), Healthcare Assistant (Kaiser Permanente Riverside), Research Assistant (BELL Labs), POP Volunteer, DSO Volunteer, Piano Teacher (TMC)

Describe your college experience

My college experience started off really rocky; I felt like I had been hit with way too much all at once, and especially since I'm not always the greatest at socialising and making friends, I was really nervous that I would not find my footing here. In the end though, what helped me the most that first year was making a solid, tight group of friends and building from there. I've met some of the most incredible people here, and even though I have had some rough experiences, the friendships and subsequent memories I've made have left me with a college experience I'll always treasure.

Tip for future students

Don't hesitate; if there's anything at all that you think sounds cool, or an opportunity that you would like to have even if you aren't confident you'll get it, or a person that you want to talk to that you aren't sure will reciprocate you, go for it. Sometimes it won't work out, but when it does, you'll thank yourself a thousand times over that you took the courage to take that first step forwards.

Favorite class

Korean Traditional Dance! It's a great example of one of the niche classes that you won't really find at other colleges, and it's just been a blast. The teacher is so cool, there's super little pressure especially compared to some of the academic heavy classes at Berkeley, and overall it's just a really interesting and engaging class with awesome classmates.

Career goals

I hope to eventually go to PA or Med School and eventually work in the healthcare field.

Ideal way to spend a free night

Anything that involves my friends, whether it be just chilling at my apartment, or exploring some place new, or eating good food.

High school or secondary school

Canyon High School