The past three weeks have been a whirlwind of excitement, awkward first introductions and panic attacks that come from frantically searching for classes. For most of us, the first week of school felt like summer camp. Sleeping in a dorm with roommates, eating crappy dining hall food and exploring the campus felt like we were part of a college summer program. But the majority of freshman have this “Aha” moment when it hits us that this is college. The moment where we realize this is real life and not just a near distant future anymore. This moment came to me in my Sociology lecture.

At Berkeley, there’s a thing called Berkeley Time, where classes start 10 minutes later than stated on the schedule. Being the nervous and disheveled freshman that I am, I show up to class 10 minutes early anyway.

The lecture begins, and I’m already struggling to stay awake. I immediately slap myself conscious and force myself to take notes because I have to be here. But that’s when I see it. Two people in front of me sit get up and begin to leave. I’m speechless. How could they just leave? It’s only half an hour into the lecture, and people are…leaving? Before you know it, at least 10 people have left.

That’s when I realize this is college. I don’t have to be here. There’s no one taking roll call. I can do whatever the hell I want! I can flunk out, gain the freshman 15, go to every party on frat row and no one will stop me. This is college, and it is what we make of it. We have independence, and the free will to do whatever we want.

In a matter of weeks, I realize that I’ve slowly changed, too. I don’t mind eating by myself because we all have different class schedules. I don’t mind being the only person on my floor to rush for a sorority because we all have different interests. I don’t mind admitting that I call my mom every day because I miss my best friend. I don’t mind any of this because while we have all come to the same college, we won’t all end up at the same place by the time these next four years are over.

Looking at my portal, I also realize that a college education isn’t cheap. We’re (well, our parents) are paying for this. And even though I’d be long gone if I took a shot every time the Chancellor told us we go to the number one public university in the world, it’s true. The University of California, Berkeley is the number one public university in the world. Even though no one is taking roll call, it’s now up to us to decide whether we want to be here or absent. Which will you choose?