I met a girl named Kari a few months ago. I had emailed a few times with her mom who is in charge of the missions group Service in Missions here in Chile. Their family lives in Temuco which is an 8 hour bus ride from Santiago. SO in November, when I was travelling, I visited the family and met Kari. Kari and I hit it off immediatly and basically spent 4 days talking nonstop. We discussed everything from psychology to politics to my favorite subject, the Bible. After our four days of bonding, I left to travel more but we promised we would see each other again. Her family went to La Serena for vacation in december. I knew they were planning on going up there, but I wasn´t sure exactly when or where they would be. I found Kari in the Plaza de Armas and we literally ran across the plaza to each other screaming. Yes, we acted like gringas. And we are not ashamed of it.
So I got a phone call a few days ago from Kari and she told me that she would be in Santiago today. So once again we hung out and it amazes me how there are certain people in life that you just immediatly are so comfortable with. When Kari and I first met, we got to the point by the third day that we were discussing some hard issues and we both we able to confide in each other. And today, it felt like we had known each other for a few years, not a few months. I wonder what it is that some people you can know for years and never really know them, and others you can meet and within minutes be as comfortable as family. Strange. But I like it. In any case, it feels like home with her. SHe would have loved my bible study at Cal Poly.
So I got a phone call a few days ago from Kari and she told me that she would be in Santiago today. So once again we hung out and it amazes me how there are certain people in life that you just immediatly are so comfortable with. When Kari and I first met, we got to the point by the third day that we were discussing some hard issues and we both we able to confide in each other. And today, it felt like we had known each other for a few years, not a few months. I wonder what it is that some people you can know for years and never really know them, and others you can meet and within minutes be as comfortable as family. Strange. But I like it. In any case, it feels like home with her. SHe would have loved my bible study at Cal Poly.
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hmm, i dunno the parentals, i havent seen them so happy in my life...i'm pretty nervous about the interview i have with the Regency Scholars people at Berkeley..not exactly sure what they want to hear, but it's like i can't make myself into someone else, i don't even have a powersuit! everyone needs a powersuit!! I just don't want to be a big fish in a small pond forever you know, thats why i wanted to go to berkeley to challenge myself so i could grow, then again, Poly is comfortable..and i do need to chill since k-12 has been...AHHH!, i don't know i think in the longrun challenging myself will reveal hidden potential, i just don;t want to be old and wrinkly and have regrets. sigh, hmm well all the scholars nominees are going out to a place called zacharys pizza..ever been there? i heard the wait is notorious... well have a fantabulous day, keep smiling, watching novelas, soaking up the sun etc etc etc.
-CalGal...maybe
don't worry about wearing a power suit. most of the faculty don't -- some of us live in jeans and flip-flops. just be ready to talk about your vision for your life, what you want to do. talk about wanting big challenges, even though it's scary. talk about the things that you're passionate about, things that you know something about. don't worry about not knowing everything -- nobody does. not even the faculty (perhaps especially not the faculty).
berkeley will be one of your biggest challenges, but if you're up for it, one of the best things you could do for yourself.
-kimmen (becca's mom, professor in bioengineering)
hmm, question.
if i were to go into the interview with a portfolio full of my publications, letters of rec, report card, resume, and a CD of my compositions...do you think it would be overkill? i mean i don't want the board to think im conceited...i'd be doing it more out of desparation because i want them to remember me, not just to be a number in a sea of faces ya know. be honest..better to know now then later right? Thankyou Becka's Mom...you are quite wise. i'm wearing my mom's old suit-skirt-jacket..no skin, from when she was working in hongkong, pretty shnazzy, i took out the shoulder pads though..don't want to look like a linebacker..eww.
I had a student visit me once with that kind of preparation, and I found it impressive, as it showed the kind of drive and organization that is really needed to do something big. So if you're inclined to go that route, go for it. But there's no substitute for being able to talk about the things you're passionate about and what you hope to do with your life. Dream big! What could you do at Berkeley that you couldn't do so well elsewhere? The international component is major at Berkeley -- being exposed to new ways of thinking, some of the top professors in the world, and some of the smartest young people as your colleagues and lifelong friends. Think about these things and about what you want to do, and how Berkeley would help you. Then communicate that when you interview. Good luck!
-kimmen
He has amazing plans for your life. :0)