Ah, college decisions. After (literally) jumping for joy, crying, or anything in between when receiving letters, it's time to get down to business. For some, choosing a college is a no-brainer, but for others, it involves a vast amount of soul-searching and debates (with yourself just as much as with parents, if not more). I was definitely in the second category. I visited campus and shadowed a friend through her classes; the same procedure I had been through for all my other college tours. The only issue -- it was my last tour and I was sure I had made up my mind...or so I thought.

Acceptance letters and college tours under my belt,

I wonder what will change

On yet another visit to Cal.

I’ve lost count of the times I walked through Sproul Plaza and Sather Gate,

As the site of speech and quiz bowl tournaments could very well be my future home.

I make my way over to the green-stoned CS building

Bumble into the classroom.

A far cry from the lecture halls I’ve grown to fear.

My friend motions to me, whispering “come here.”

The young graduate student hands me a sheet of paper,

Simplifying Dijkstra’s algorithm and selection sort with a smile.

After discussion the walk to Wheeler is surprisingly short.

Either because she knows the way

Or conversations with friends old and new take our time away.

The professor lectures like a priest from the pulpit

His explanations of the scriptures of sorting algorithms

Place the serious students’ intellects deep in their embrace.

Office hours on the top floor of Soda -- he helps individual students

And they help each other.

Cutthroat? These stories are exaggerations,

As I find when he addresses my questions and engages the students,

Some of whom jump in.

Question by question, answer by answer,

Berkeley feels like home.

Just as I exit the office my friend arrives.

We debate and analyze and think.

What do I want to do in life?

Where will I be happy?

As the answer overwhelmingly starts to point to "Berkeley."

Tears flow, hugs last long,

As the couple sharing their pizza looks at us enviously.

Once the final words and embraces are exchanged,

A sensation never experienced before --

Reading my name on speech final round postings

Buzzing on the first line of the quiz bowl question,

Fitting a spectrum through extensive debugging,

Telling her she makes me feel special

But multiplied.

Four great years I now envision,

I tell my mother, “I’ve made my decision.”

I'm really excited for all that Berkeley has to offer and look forward to seeing what I can offer Berkeley. Go Bears!