As Golden Bears all over the country prepare to head back to campus next month for the upcoming school year, CalBears.com caught up with each of the Women's Gymnastics freshmen to recap some of their favorite moments from their first season in Berkeley. In the first installment, Arianna Robinson shares some valuable insight on the many changes she experienced after arriving on campus. Read more below and check CalBears.com each week for a new Q&A featuring each of the rising sophomores!

CalBears.com: How did the team retreat last year help you adjust?

Arianna Robinson: I think the team retreat helped more than words can fully explain. I was able to see everybody outside of the gym, in their “natural” environment. I was able to get to know them better on a personal level.

CB: What is the biggest lesson you learned from our coaching staff as a freshman?

AR: To give it your all. There's always going to be something you can do better, and it's striving for that which makes progress possible.

CB: What was your favorite meet? Why?

AR: My favorite competition was probably the Co-Ed competition. We always practice at the same time as the men, so it was a really fun time to be able to compete alongside them as well. It felt as though there was more energy in the arena and everyone was able to feed off of it.

CB: What surprised you the most about your freshman year?

AR: Honestly, what surprised me the most was how much I loved it. I've been told how much fun college gymnastics is and how different it is from club, but to actually experience it? There were so many times during the season that I just wanted to hit pause and live in that moment forever. The memories made with my teammates will be something that I will carry with me long into the future.

CB: What was your favorite part about your first year at Cal, and why?

AR: My favorite part about my first year at Cal was just experiencing it. It can be so easy to get overwhelmed with whatever you're expected to do. But just realizing that everything will come and go with time helps to understand that it's best to just experience the moment while it's there.

CB: What is the most useful thing you learned all year (either in the gym or in the classroom)?

AR: If you're interested, that's the first step to success. Being interested in a subject, whether academically or athletically, can help when the times get rough. If you're not interested, it makes it that much harder to make progress in whatever it is you're pursuing.

CB: What is your funniest memory you have from in the gym during your freshman year?

AR: My funniest memory that I have from in the gym would probably be the days that we did sticking drills. Even though it wasn't a competition, it was always fun seeing people face off and try to stick certain skills before each other. Their reactions, depending on whether they stuck it or not, were often some of the most over-the-top reactions I'd ever seen.

CB: What was your favorite class during freshman year, and why?

AR: My favorite class during my freshman year was Film 50. I've always been interested in the progression of media throughout the years and this class focused on exactly that. It was pretty cool to go to each class and be able to watch a different movie from different countries and eras. Finding connections and themes throughout the semester proved to be a bit challenging for me, but I still loved the course. Unfortunately, I think the class is no longer being offered at Berkeley.

CB: What are you most excited about for next gym season? What are you looking forward to in your academics this year?

AR: I'm most excited for the new memories that will be made. No two years are exactly alike, so I'm looking forward to seeing how things progress and what will come of it. Academically, I'm looking forward to pursuing classes that I'm interested in.

CB: What advice would you give to your new freshmen teammates?

AR: My best piece of advice would be to take things one-step at a time. Although you definitely want to have an end goal, keep in mind that everything happens in steps. And making progress occurs at different times for different people, so try your best not to compare yourself to others. Also, enjoy your time because freshman year goes by a LOT quicker than I had expected.