Whether you are thinking about applying to a school or actually making the decision to go there, one of the most important things you can do is visit the campus. If you’re going to be spending a large part of the next four years of your life somewhere, it’s pretty important that you get a good feel for what that place is like.  Looking at pictures and websites is okay, but it doesn’t compare to actually being there and experiencing it for yourself.

When I started looking at schools my junior year, I was living in the Middle East; I couldn’t just hop on a plane and go visit a campus for the day/weekend. Instead I explored the websites of the schools I was interested in at the time. What I got from the websites was very different than what I got from visiting, especially my perception of size.  For example, when I looked at the map of Berkeley, I wasn’t as interested in it as I was in Stanford because it looked like it was the size of a small city. Walking around campus for a day, it seemed a lot smaller and personal than I had originally thought.

When you visit, it’s a good idea to follow a campus tour. These will get you acquainted with campus in a short amount of time, and give you an opportunity to ask questions about campus. I work as a tour guide myself, and from what people tell me, tours are usually only about the positive aspects of a campus (I tend to be a little more realistic on mine…). So it’s a good idea to talk to other people on campus as well and ask them questions.  You want to be asking people questions about what goes on there, if it is engaging, is there stuff to do when you’re done with your work, places to go…know what you want out of a campus. The thing that I loved about Berkeley when I visited was that it was near San Francisco, but also right by hills and nature trails. So you also want to explore the surrounding areas.  Most campuses tend to act like a bubble, and people don’t really get out of that bubble much….but if you’re like me and you like to explore on a daily basis, get out there and do it!

When making your decision about attending, the best thing you can do is experience campus on your own. Many people will try to give you advice on where you should go, but in the end it is your decision.  A lot of universities offer programs to accepted students where they can go stay on campus for a few days, get a taste of the social scene, classes, food and what not.  I’d recommend doing these programs if you don’t have other options to visit, but if possible I’d do something where you’re granted a little more independence.  If you know people who go to said school then ask them if you can borrow their floor for a couple days and maybe follow them around… you want to experience what it is like being a student, without your family tagging along.

Decisions are made much easier when you visit schools. One school may outrank another for what you want to be studying, but it’s much more important that you are happy with the place you are going to be for the next four years. If you guys have any questions or want me to go more in depth with any of this stuff, please don’t hesitate to leave me a comment.

So I’ve been MIA for the last few weeks now, and it’s high time I let you all know what I was up to. Berkeley is on the semester system, and since Spring Semester ended (on May 21st) I have been trying to finalize my summer plans. As of yesterday I finally figured them out!

This story requires a lot of background info, so I apologize.

I was born(was that a groan?) in the city of Abu Dhabi, UAE a month before the first Gulf War ended. This event in the region actually ties into why I am at Berkeley, I’ll get into it later. Three months later I moved to Northbrook, IL, till I was one, and then I moved to Portland, OR. When I was five I ended up moving back to Abu Dhabi where I lived till the summer of 2007, and then I moved to the San Francisco Bay Area.

While living in the Middle East I went to a couple private schools, the first from “KG2,” the kindergarten equivalent, till 7th grade, and the other from 8th grade through 11th. The one where I’d spent most of high school was a part of the “SABIS” system, a Lebanese system that has its roots in the late 1880’s. This system played a big part in my academic prepardness for college, but not the emotional or social side. I had a hard time identifying with the kids, because I was a total culture clash myself of Lebanese and European heritage, and the school was a total clash with Middle Eastern and American culture .

I went to Abraham Lincoln High School in San Jose, CA for senior year; and for the first time in many years-this is  hella cheesy, I know-I felt free. All teenagers have a struggle, and mine had been tremendously complicated in the year before I moved to San Jose. Coming here meant I was free to be myself, around my friends and family…I could be more open and my confidence developed tremendously.

Since coming to Berkeley I’ve developed my own, somewhat rare culture. I think you could call it Californian?The only reason why is that people here are SO DIVERSE, there’s really no other way to put it, and I absolutely love it!And before coming here I’d never known people as goofy as I am.

BACK TO ORIGINAL STORY:

I have a job to pay for my personal expenses, but I am also very fortunate to be supported by my parents, for which I am truly greatful. That job required me to be up here(Berkeley) for the summer apparently, but because of what goes back to bad planning and decisions on the part of the government of California, this has proven really unnecessary. (Life lesson will be blogged about later)…since my dad is paying for my education,  and we’d been kind of distant,  I was waiting for his early June visit to make my summer decisons. Not the best plan…

Anyways, I feel that it is important to give you that background so I can start blogging for y’all. In addition, here are a bunch of pictures I’ve been taking this summer, with commentary of course.  http://picasaweb.google.com/zak.habash/BB0609?authkey=Gv1sRgCJemxqSSlcLuIA&feat=directlink

If you have any questions, please don’t hestitate to let me know!My username on here is Zak014(creative, right?)…

Salam!

Hi gals/guys!

So first off, my name is Zak. I hail from many places all over the world (no joke), but most recently San Jose, CA. I just finished my freshman year at UC Berkeley, where I pretty much live full time now in a house off campus. My plans for the summer include taking a class at a community college, making bank any way possible, playing ultimate Frisbee whether the weather cooperates or not, throwing sick trance-electro-ey dance parties in the mountains, making more tie dye than I need and hopefully learning how to surf?…I’m a pretty spontaneous and open-minded guy, I love the outdoors and I love trying out new things. I’m also really into learning and experiencing different cultures. By different I mean world cultures, and the many sub-cultures that we have here in California; I go to a pretty diverse school, I live in a very diverse area and I come from a pretty diverse background-so it’s great getting to know new people and sharing stories. I must be off now unfortunately, but before I go I feel this would be a good place to teach you an Arabic word. This word is “Salaam,” and it means “Peace.” So Salaam everyone!