What I miss most being away from Cal is the overwhelming feeling of comradery, the unique power of a team and the knowledge that we are all in this together. Every game, every practice, every day as a student-athlete, you are tethered to your teammates as you face the challenges in front of you, together. And while this feeling of being alone, isolated, and unable to see each other for the foreseeable future is completely foreign to all of us, it's that sense of solidarity that has kept my spirits high.
 
When I returned home, I was inspired by this strange sense of preparedness. Not in the stocked-up-on-toilet-paper sense, but in the way that there is nothing this world could throw at me or my teammates that we cannot handle. Perseverance in the face of adversity is something that I've learned from my experience as a Cal Bear. No matter what I accomplish at Cal, and there is still a lot of unfinished business, I will forever be indebted to this institution for instilling unrelenting persistence in overcoming obstacles.  
 
At Berkeley, there is an enormous sense of possibility. Right now, it feels unnatural for a place that is constantly churning to be put on pause. Yet, this time away from the place I love has allowed me to reflect. Being home, and away from Berkeley has made me realize how different I am today from the person who embarked on her collegiate journey three years ago. My experiences at Cal, the incredible triumphs as well as the failures, have shaped me into the person I am today. The thing that makes Berkeley special is the people, the teachers who have bestowed (and still are!) their wisdom upon me, the coaches who have devoted their careers to helping me get better as an athlete, and most importantly, the teammates who I've been experiencing life with. I miss Berkeley, all of it, but especially the people.
 
And I can't wait to see them soon.