#TBT, or #ThrowbackThursday, is a common hashtag you will come across on any given Thursday if you’re scrolling through your Instagram feed. And if you’re a Cal student who follows other Cal students on any form of social media, you will come across a number of similar-looking photos of small, innocent looking teenagers in Cal gear in front of the Campanile or Sather Gate.
Ah, the good ol’ days, we think to ourselves. These #TBT photos are representative of what not only college but also Berkeley has done to us in the past two, three or even eight semesters.
Let’s start with all that stuff we miss. Remember when you thought you could get away with eating Top Dog every day without gaining a single pound — you know, when you thought you had the metabolism of a 13-year old boy? Remember when it was okay to not know your major yet? Remember when you thought you were the bee’s knees at writing essays because you aced your first essay in your R1A class?
Well unfortunately, these days are long gone. At this point, you’ve probably become more realistic. You’ve had your fair share of ups and downs at Cal. You’ve seen or been a stressed-out freshman who needed a shoulder to cry on or a little push from a friend to get through midterm season. You’ve gotten through at least one crap-I-forgot-to-bring-my-umbrella-and-there’s-a-f%*ing-monsoon-outside-today day. You got your first C in a class and got over the initial “I-DON’T-BELONG-AT-CAL-HOW-DID-I-EVEN-GRADUATE-HIGH-SCHOOL” reaction … and hopefully, you’ve realized that you do belong here.
These #TBT photos are representative of how much we’ve all changed in such a short span of time. They’re a reminder of what Cal, the courses it has offered us, the professors and the students have been able to teach us so quickly — how we’ve grown so much mentally (and physically — freshman 15, are we right?) because of it.
And don’t forget all that good stuff we’ve gained since those #TBT photos were taken. At this point, you’ve discovered at least one friend who has a car and can take you to Cheese Board all the time! ALL. THE. TIME. Also, you’re probably not fazed anymore by the man who stands in front of Sather Gate and dresses up as an alien covered in toilet paper rolls and aluminum foil. You’ve probably even made friends with the guy outside of Asian Ghetto who plays Michael Jackson songs on repeat from his boom box. You’ve visited San Francisco a number of times with your floormates since your first semester and happily realized that it does not get old like you thought it would.
So when you’re missing your first-semester days, remember that it’s not so bad being a little older. If you’re ever feeling down about it, just tell yourself, “Hey, I’m friends with the guy that dresses like an alien on Sproul,” or “I’m basically friends with that guy who dresses like an Alien on Sproul because he smiles at me every time I pass by him.” And all will be well. Go Bears.
Contact Gabrielle Nguyen at [email protected]