The deadline for this essay competition has been extended to 11:59 p.m. on Monday, May 7. 

“It is easy to see the beginnings of things, and harder to see the ends.”

So begins Joan Didion in one of her most beloved essays, “Goodbye to All That,” as she writes about how she fell in love with — and, later, said goodbye to — the promise and hope of a bright and technicolor city.

And it’s a sentiment that almost every soon-to-be UC Berkeley graduate has pondered at one point or another as they reflect on their time on campus and in the city of Berkeley.  

So in honor of Didion, a UC Berkeley alumna herself and a former editor at this very paper, The Daily Californian presents its inaugural “Goodbye to All That” essay contest.

We’re calling on all students graduating this year to reflect on their time at UC Berkeley. We want to know about the beginnings and the ends. Tell us what you’ve learned, what you’ve loved and why — or if — you’re ready to say goodbye to all that.

Send us your submissions:

• Essays should be between 600 and 800 words.
• Do not submit fiction or poetry.
• Submit your essay as an editable Google Doc via email to [email protected] with the subject line “Goodbye to All That — (your name)”.
• The deadline to submit an essay is May 7 at 11:59 p.m.

The first-place winner will see their essay published with an illustration in the Daily Cal’s print and online editions of its Graduation Issue, which will be released May 10.

The second- and third-place winners will see their essays published in the online edition of the issue as well.