2024-2025 Essays:
All eight UC undergraduate colleges use their own application rather than the Common or Coalition applications. Consequently, they provide a unique set of prompts for students applying to the UC system and offer the following directions;
- “You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
- Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
- Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you, but you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.”
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?
Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?
Explanation:
As stated in “Things to consider,” this prompt is asking about your experiences in a leadership role and what you’ve learned in that capacity. How did you make a positive impact through your role (whether formal or informal), and what was the lasting change you created? The impact does not have to be monumental; in fact, it could be a positive interaction you’ve had with your team or with members of the community that changed you or the people around you for the better. Some great examples to reflect on are caring for a family member(s), resolving a conflict, or stepping up in an organization you’re already a part of.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?
How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?
Explanation:
For this prompt, think outside the box and reflect on unique and memorable ways in which you exercise your creativity. Provide a specific example that illustrates your creative expression. As stated in the prompt, your response is not only limited to artistic endeavors—you can recount the experience of solving a math problem you were stuck on for hours or incorporating a different approach to address an issue in a club or an organization you’re a part of. You should not simply demonstrate creativity by what story you tell, but also how you choose to tell it. In a compelling and descriptive way, walk your reader through the experience, your thought process, and how you implemented a creative approach to resolving the conflict or problem.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it.You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?
Explanation:
This is the space where you can write about how you’ve developed the skills and talents that are unique to you. You do not need to have received awards, distinctions, or accolades in order for a given skill or talent to be significant. The prompt is seeking your own evaluation of your greatest talent, and it’s okay if your response isn’t about a skill that an admissions officer may expect based on your resume. Don’t be afraid to write about an unusual or unique talent or skill!
Additionally, note that the second question is just as important as the first—the admissions committee wants to understand your journey in developing this talent or skill over time. Don’t be afraid to share some of the failures or growing pains you overcame along the way.
Consider the following questions as you tackle this prompt: What is your first memory of exploring this talent/skill? How have you developed it over time, and how does this bring you joy? Do you see yourself continuing to hone your skill/talent in college, and if so, how?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.
If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today?
Explanation:
This prompt is very open-ended and deliberately vague in defining educational opportunities or barriers, allowing students to answer in a variety of different ways. At the same time, students should note that the most important aspect of the prompt is its emphasis on self-motivation. Whatever experience you highlight should clearly showcase your determination, autonomy, and initiative.
You may recount a proactive step you have taken to continue your education or challenge yourself. Alternatively, you may choose to write about an obstacle you faced and how you overcame it to learn something new, discover your passion, or develop resilience. However, students should be careful to avoid cliches or common tropes as they answer this prompt—for instance, the Covid-19 pandemic may have posed significant academic challenges for you to overcome, but there are likely thousands of other students who had a similar experience and who will write about it in their essay. Make sure that whatever you choose to write about is unique to you and that it won’t get lost in a sea of similar essays.
Finally, reflect on what you learned from this experience. Consider how it has shaped your academic journey, your personal development, or your future goals. This reflection demonstrates your ability to learn from experiences and apply those lessons moving forward. What did you learn by overcoming the obstacle(s), and how did that change your approach to life? Did that inspire you to make a change within your community? Do you see yourself in a role that will continue knocking down those barriers to help others?
Sample:
When I was eight years old, I stopped speaking. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say—I just couldn’t say it. Words clung to the back of my throat, and I felt as though I was choking on a ball of anxiety. The therapist handed my parents books and articles on “selective mutism,” as they sought to help me find my voice again, but the dense psychological analyses did little to assuage the feeling of shame that accompanied my silence.
The challenge of being voiceless defined my early academic experience, turning simple tasks like answering a question or reading aloud into insurmountable obstacles. As I worked with a therapist, I inched toward progress. Small victories like whispering to a friend felt monumental. I learned to cope with my debilitating anxiety through deep breathing and visualization, and slowly began speaking one sentence out loud per day, then two, then three.
By high school, my voice was still quiet, but I had found the will to speak up. In a moment of determination (and perhaps impulsiveness), I signed up for the mock trial team. Though the first year was terrifying, mock trial taught me to use my voice to advocate—not only for others, but also for myself. As I delivered opening statements, argued my positions, and even coached budding mock trial-ers during my second and third years, my passion for advocacy chased away my fear of speaking. I became a formidable voice in the mock trial courtroom—and outside of it.
Overcoming this challenge taught me that perseverance and patience can turn even the quietest voices into powerful ones. Today, my voice is my greatest strength—a tool I use not only to express myself but to inspire and help others find their own. As a member of the UC community, I intend to join a legacy of students and graduates who used their voice to demand freedom, peace, justice, and change. I will not only speak up, but I will speak out for those who—like my younger self—can’t speak for themselves.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?
If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family?
Explanation:
We’ve all faced challenges, big and small, so it can be tricky to choose just one to reflect on. You should focus on recent history rather than on an obstacle you overcame when you were young and may not remember with as much clarity. The two key words in this prompt you should focus on are “personal” and “overcome.” The challenge should be uniquely formative in your journey and one that you have overcome and thoughtfully reflected back on. Try to avoid writing about a generic challenge—anything from failing a test to missing the winning goal. Only select something of this nature if you feel that you can write about one of these topics in an original and engaging way.
Once you choose the obstacle or setback you want to discuss, talk about your feelings in a mature and emotionally intelligent way, selecting an experience that demonstrates your potential to thrive in and learn from difficult situations. As with any other prompt, try to show, rather than tell, as you write about this growth. You could potentially juxtapose two situations: one in which you failed, and a later one in which you implemented what you learned the first time around in order to succeed.
Avoid issues which you haven’t fully processed and still view with bitterness or hopelessness. Remember, you are trying to demonstrate growth and maturity, not wallow or complain.
6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.
Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?
Explanation:
You can approach this essay the way you might approach a supplement from another school asking “why this major?” Students applying to the UC system choose a major before they start school. While you don’t have to stick to this major forever, you should definitely do some soul searching before applying to determine what major would be the best choice for you. Think about what you enjoy in school, what you see yourself doing in the future, and what sparks your curiosity and passion. You don’t have to choose something super niche or esoteric to make yourself seem smarter or more unique. Show your genuine, nerdy, and passionate side!
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place—like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?
Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?
Explanation:
This essay is a great opportunity to show admissions officers your values and help them imagine how you would function within their college community. To make a lasting impression on your admissions officer, describe a time you made an impact on your community, rather than listing the many ways you were involved. Think about how your community would have been different without you and why your impact was unique. Be sure to offer quantitative information wherever possible.
8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?
From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afraid to brag a little.
Explanation:
This essay is basically a free for all, but don’t take that as an excuse to write just anything. If you use this prompt as one of your four essays, it should help paint a more complete picture of you as a UC applicant, student, and person. While it is okay to brag in this essay, keep in mind the caveat “a little.” This essay should be just that—an essay, not a list of all of the accomplishments you couldn’t fit elsewhere in your application. You can, however, dive into a passion project you executed that didn’t exactly fit with any of the other prompts, a competition you won that has a great story to go with it, or a talent you are developing that you think really sets you apart.
Sample:
To become a strong scuba diver, to plumb the deepest waters and discover the most elusive sights, the most crucial skills are not swimming or agility or even gaining the strength to carry unwieldy equipment. They are finding equilibrium, harnessing the breath, and accessing one’s own innate strength to find calm.
Equalizing is essential for safety and comfort underwater, yet the practice is equally relevant on land. As an ambitious student and activist seeking to create systemic change through policy, I strive to communicate my findings in order to expand our collective consciousness of oft-overlooked issues and enact change. Like in diving, I’m passionate about digging deep to gain a thorough understanding of marginalized communities. As rewarding as these pursuits are, the process is not without significant pressure.
I frequently plunge into settings both unfamiliar and risky: I’ve addressed school boards pleading to protect LGBTQ+ students and dove into protests championing equality for all students, no matter their gender expression and identity. I’ve faced obstinance and have been told that the policies I advocate for offend my small town’s values. Despite the resistance, I’ve succeeded in installing a gender-neutral bathroom in every wing of my school and a gender-neutral changing room in our gym.
Advocating for underserved and marginalized communities has become my primary passion, and I hope to learn more about legislation and the broader landscape of policy implementation in college and beyond.
Whenever I find myself grasping for a lifeline, I remember the lessons I learned as a scuba diver, equalizing as I descend into higher-pressure water, a skill that is both a physical necessity and a mental discipline. Equalizing requires focus, calm, and attunement to one’s surroundings. To transform fear into empowerment, I recall my instructor’s voice: breathe out—hard, fast—and trust yourself. In order to strengthen communities, you must strengthen yourself first. I trust my knowledge, my tenacity, and myself—and I trust that I will be an excellent fit to lead equally driven students at UC.
2024-2025 Essays:
All eight UC undergraduate colleges use their own application rather than the Common or Coalition applications. Consequently, they provide a unique set of prompts for students applying to the UC system and offer the following directions;
- “You will have 8 questions to choose from. You must respond to only 4 of the 8 questions.
- Each response is limited to a maximum of 350 words.
- Which questions you choose to answer is entirely up to you, but you should select questions that are most relevant to your experience and that best reflect your individual circumstances.”
1. Describe an example of your leadership experience in which you have positively influenced others, helped resolve disputes or contributed to group efforts over time.
Things to consider: A leadership role can mean more than just a title. It can mean being a mentor to others, acting as the person in charge of a specific task, or taking the lead role in organizing an event or project. Think about what you accomplished and what you learned from the experience. What were your responsibilities?
Did you lead a team? How did your experience change your perspective on leading others? Did you help to resolve an important dispute at your school, church, in your community or an organization? And your leadership role doesn’t necessarily have to be limited to school activities. For example, do you help out or take care of your family?
Explanation:
As stated in “Things to consider,” this prompt is asking about your experiences in a leadership role and what you’ve learned in that capacity. How did you make a positive impact through your role (whether formal or informal), and what was the lasting change you created? The impact does not have to be monumental; in fact, it could be a positive interaction you’ve had with your team or with members of the community that changed you or the people around you for the better. Some great examples to reflect on are caring for a family member(s), resolving a conflict, or stepping up in an organization you’re already a part of.
2. Every person has a creative side, and it can be expressed in many ways: problem solving, original and innovative thinking, and artistically, to name a few. Describe how you express your creative side.
Things to consider: What does creativity mean to you? Do you have a creative skill that is important to you? What have you been able to do with that skill? If you used creativity to solve a problem, what was your solution? What are the steps you took to solve the problem?
How does your creativity influence your decisions inside or outside the classroom? Does your creativity relate to your major or a future career?
Explanation:
For this prompt, think outside the box and reflect on unique and memorable ways in which you exercise your creativity. Provide a specific example that illustrates your creative expression. As stated in the prompt, your response is not only limited to artistic endeavors—you can recount the experience of solving a math problem you were stuck on for hours or incorporating a different approach to address an issue in a club or an organization you’re a part of. You should not simply demonstrate creativity by what story you tell, but also how you choose to tell it. In a compelling and descriptive way, walk your reader through the experience, your thought process, and how you implemented a creative approach to resolving the conflict or problem.
3. What would you say is your greatest talent or skill? How have you developed and demonstrated that talent over time?
Things to consider: If there is a talent or skill that you’re proud of, this is the time to share it.You don’t necessarily have to be recognized or have received awards for your talent (although if you did and you want to talk about it, feel free to do so). Why is this talent or skill meaningful to you?
Does the talent come naturally or have you worked hard to develop this skill or talent? Does your talent or skill allow you opportunities in or outside the classroom? If so, what are they and how do they fit into your schedule?
Explanation:
This is the space where you can write about how you’ve developed the skills and talents that are unique to you. You do not need to have received awards, distinctions, or accolades in order for a given skill or talent to be significant. The prompt is seeking your own evaluation of your greatest talent, and it’s okay if your response isn’t about a skill that an admissions officer may expect based on your resume. Don’t be afraid to write about an unusual or unique talent or skill!
Additionally, note that the second question is just as important as the first—the admissions committee wants to understand your journey in developing this talent or skill over time. Don’t be afraid to share some of the failures or growing pains you overcame along the way.
Consider the following questions as you tackle this prompt: What is your first memory of exploring this talent/skill? How have you developed it over time, and how does this bring you joy? Do you see yourself continuing to hone your skill/talent in college, and if so, how?
4. Describe how you have taken advantage of a significant educational opportunity or worked to overcome an educational barrier you have faced.
Things to consider: An educational opportunity can be anything that has added value to your educational experience and better prepared you for college. For example, participation in an honors or academic enrichment program, or enrollment in an academy that’s geared toward an occupation or a major, or taking advanced courses that interest you; just to name a few.
If you choose to write about educational barriers you’ve faced, how did you overcome or strive to overcome them? What personal characteristics or skills did you call on to overcome this challenge? How did overcoming this barrier help shape who you are today?
Explanation:
This prompt is very open-ended and deliberately vague in defining educational opportunities or barriers, allowing students to answer in a variety of different ways. At the same time, students should note that the most important aspect of the prompt is its emphasis on self-motivation. Whatever experience you highlight should clearly showcase your determination, autonomy, and initiative.
You may recount a proactive step you have taken to continue your education or challenge yourself. Alternatively, you may choose to write about an obstacle you faced and how you overcame it to learn something new, discover your passion, or develop resilience. However, students should be careful to avoid cliches or common tropes as they answer this prompt—for instance, the Covid-19 pandemic may have posed significant academic challenges for you to overcome, but there are likely thousands of other students who had a similar experience and who will write about it in their essay. Make sure that whatever you choose to write about is unique to you and that it won’t get lost in a sea of similar essays.
Finally, reflect on what you learned from this experience. Consider how it has shaped your academic journey, your personal development, or your future goals. This reflection demonstrates your ability to learn from experiences and apply those lessons moving forward. What did you learn by overcoming the obstacle(s), and how did that change your approach to life? Did that inspire you to make a change within your community? Do you see yourself in a role that will continue knocking down those barriers to help others?
Sample:
When I was eight years old, I stopped speaking. It wasn’t that I didn’t have anything to say—I just couldn’t say it. Words clung to the back of my throat, and I felt as though I was choking on a ball of anxiety. The therapist handed my parents books and articles on “selective mutism,” as they sought to help me find my voice again, but the dense psychological analyses did little to assuage the feeling of shame that accompanied my silence.
The challenge of being voiceless defined my early academic experience, turning simple tasks like answering a question or reading aloud into insurmountable obstacles. As I worked with a therapist, I inched toward progress. Small victories like whispering to a friend felt monumental. I learned to cope with my debilitating anxiety through deep breathing and visualization, and slowly began speaking one sentence out loud per day, then two, then three.
By high school, my voice was still quiet, but I had found the will to speak up. In a moment of determination (and perhaps impulsiveness), I signed up for the mock trial team. Though the first year was terrifying, mock trial taught me to use my voice to advocate—not only for others, but also for myself. As I delivered opening statements, argued my positions, and even coached budding mock trial-ers during my second and third years, my passion for advocacy chased away my fear of speaking. I became a formidable voice in the mock trial courtroom—and outside of it.
Overcoming this challenge taught me that perseverance and patience can turn even the quietest voices into powerful ones. Today, my voice is my greatest strength—a tool I use not only to express myself but to inspire and help others find their own. As a member of the UC community, I intend to join a legacy of students and graduates who used their voice to demand freedom, peace, justice, and change. I will not only speak up, but I will speak out for those who—like my younger self—can’t speak for themselves.
5. Describe the most significant challenge you have faced and the steps you have taken to overcome this challenge. How has this challenge affected your academic achievement?
Things to consider: A challenge could be personal, or something you have faced in your community or school. Why was the challenge significant to you? This is a good opportunity to talk about any obstacles you’ve faced and what you’ve learned from the experience. Did you have support from someone else or did you handle it alone?
If you’re currently working your way through a challenge, what are you doing now, and does that affect different aspects of your life? For example, ask yourself, How has my life changed at home, at my school, with my friends or with my family?
Explanation:
We’ve all faced challenges, big and small, so it can be tricky to choose just one to reflect on. You should focus on recent history rather than on an obstacle you overcame when you were young and may not remember with as much clarity. The two key words in this prompt you should focus on are “personal” and “overcome.” The challenge should be uniquely formative in your journey and one that you have overcome and thoughtfully reflected back on. Try to avoid writing about a generic challenge—anything from failing a test to missing the winning goal. Only select something of this nature if you feel that you can write about one of these topics in an original and engaging way.
Once you choose the obstacle or setback you want to discuss, talk about your feelings in a mature and emotionally intelligent way, selecting an experience that demonstrates your potential to thrive in and learn from difficult situations. As with any other prompt, try to show, rather than tell, as you write about this growth. You could potentially juxtapose two situations: one in which you failed, and a later one in which you implemented what you learned the first time around in order to succeed.
Avoid issues which you haven’t fully processed and still view with bitterness or hopelessness. Remember, you are trying to demonstrate growth and maturity, not wallow or complain.
6. Think about an academic subject that inspires you. Describe how you have furthered this interest inside and/or outside of the classroom.
Things to consider: Many students have a passion for one specific academic subject area, something that they just can’t get enough of. If that applies to you, what have you done to further that interest? Discuss how your interest in the subject developed and describe any experience you have had inside and outside the classroom such as volunteer work, internships, employment, summer programs, participation in student organizations and/or clubs and what you have gained from your involvement.
Has your interest in the subject influenced you in choosing a major and/or future career? Have you been able to pursue coursework at a higher level in this subject (honors, AP, IB, college or university work)? Are you inspired to pursue this subject further at UC, and how might you do that?
Explanation:
You can approach this essay the way you might approach a supplement from another school asking “why this major?” Students applying to the UC system choose a major before they start school. While you don’t have to stick to this major forever, you should definitely do some soul searching before applying to determine what major would be the best choice for you. Think about what you enjoy in school, what you see yourself doing in the future, and what sparks your curiosity and passion. You don’t have to choose something super niche or esoteric to make yourself seem smarter or more unique. Show your genuine, nerdy, and passionate side!
7. What have you done to make your school or your community a better place?
Things to consider: Think of community as a term that can encompass a group, team or a place—like your high school, hometown or home. You can define community as you see fit, just make sure you talk about your role in that community. Was there a problem that you wanted to fix in your community?
Why were you inspired to act? What did you learn from your effort? How did your actions benefit others, the wider community or both? Did you work alone or with others to initiate change in your community?
Explanation:
This essay is a great opportunity to show admissions officers your values and help them imagine how you would function within their college community. To make a lasting impression on your admissions officer, describe a time you made an impact on your community, rather than listing the many ways you were involved. Think about how your community would have been different without you and why your impact was unique. Be sure to offer quantitative information wherever possible.
8. Beyond what has already been shared in your application, what do you believe makes you a strong candidate for admissions to the University of California?
Things to consider: If there’s anything you want us to know about you but didn’t find a question or place in the application to tell us, now’s your chance. What have you not shared with us that will highlight a skill, talent, challenge or opportunity that you think will help us know you better?
From your point of view, what do you feel makes you an excellent choice for UC? Don’t be afraid to brag a little.
Explanation:
This essay is basically a free for all, but don’t take that as an excuse to write just anything. If you use this prompt as one of your four essays, it should help paint a more complete picture of you as a UC applicant, student, and person. While it is okay to brag in this essay, keep in mind the caveat “a little.” This essay should be just that—an essay, not a list of all of the accomplishments you couldn’t fit elsewhere in your application. You can, however, dive into a passion project you executed that didn’t exactly fit with any of the other prompts, a competition you won that has a great story to go with it, or a talent you are developing that you think really sets you apart.
Sample:
To become a strong scuba diver, to plumb the deepest waters and discover the most elusive sights, the most crucial skills are not swimming or agility or even gaining the strength to carry unwieldy equipment. They are finding equilibrium, harnessing the breath, and accessing one’s own innate strength to find calm.
Equalizing is essential for safety and comfort underwater, yet the practice is equally relevant on land. As an ambitious student and activist seeking to create systemic change through policy, I strive to communicate my findings in order to expand our collective consciousness of oft-overlooked issues and enact change. Like in diving, I’m passionate about digging deep to gain a thorough understanding of marginalized communities. As rewarding as these pursuits are, the process is not without significant pressure.
I frequently plunge into settings both unfamiliar and risky: I’ve addressed school boards pleading to protect LGBTQ+ students and dove into protests championing equality for all students, no matter their gender expression and identity. I’ve faced obstinance and have been told that the policies I advocate for offend my small town’s values. Despite the resistance, I’ve succeeded in installing a gender-neutral bathroom in every wing of my school and a gender-neutral changing room in our gym.
Advocating for underserved and marginalized communities has become my primary passion, and I hope to learn more about legislation and the broader landscape of policy implementation in college and beyond.
Whenever I find myself grasping for a lifeline, I remember the lessons I learned as a scuba diver, equalizing as I descend into higher-pressure water, a skill that is both a physical necessity and a mental discipline. Equalizing requires focus, calm, and attunement to one’s surroundings. To transform fear into empowerment, I recall my instructor’s voice: breathe out—hard, fast—and trust yourself. In order to strengthen communities, you must strengthen yourself first. I trust my knowledge, my tenacity, and myself—and I trust that I will be an excellent fit to lead equally driven students at UC.
