BGA Reflections From the Fall 2025 Semester
Hi everyone. My name is Cuiling—also Marcia—and I’d like to share my reflections on a semester in the Berkeley Global Access Program.
What makes this semester feel especially meaningful to me is that BGA became more than the program’s name—it became a personal growth motto. In my mind, BGA also stands for “Bold Growth Ahead.” To guide myself through challenges, I held onto another phrase: “Believe, Go, Achieve.” Same initials, same direction—BGA as both where I was and who I was becoming.
My biggest takeaway this semester is a simple progression: Blunders → Growth → Advance. That’s honestly how my experience unfolded.
There were real adjustment moments—new environments, new expectations, and learning how to communicate and live confidently in a different culture. But each mistake taught me something specific. Instead of feeling stuck, I learned to treat challenges as feedback. Over time, I became more resilient, more proactive and more willing to step forward, even when I didn’t feel fully ready.
One of the happiest parts of my Berkeley experience was exploring performances and events on campus. Through Cal Performances, I attended many wonderful shows. These experiences weren’t just fun—they helped me feel the rhythm of Berkeley life. They reminded me that learning can also happen through art: how people express ideas, emotion and creativity on stage.
Over time, I became more resilient, more proactive and more willing to step forward, even when I didn’t feel fully ready.
This semester, I also spent meaningful time meeting up with friends. Those everyday conversations—before events, after class and during small spontaneous moments—became a support system. Through friendship, I learned how to build community in a new place: how to listen better, share more honestly and appreciate different perspectives.
This semester, I also took time to travel and explore. Each trip gave me a new view—of nature, of cities and of myself. Traveling helped me recharge, stay curious and better understand the broader environment I was living in. It was a reminder that growth also comes from exploring the world beyond your routine.
Academically, I felt inspired by opportunities like attending celebrity lectures, including talks by a Turing Award winner, as well as startup leaders and industry professionals. Being in those rooms helped me see what top-level thinking looks like—how people frame problems and build ideas that matter.
I also valued the chance to build connections with professors. Those interactions helped me understand not only course content, but also how scholars approach problems, ask questions and develop long-term thinking. For me, “connection” wasn’t just networking—it was access to better ways of thinking.
To close, I’ll come back to that personal meaning of BGA. This semester, Berkeley Global Access gave me access not only to a campus, but to growth: learning through challenges, joy through experiences, strength through friendships, and perspective through exploration.
Thank you to everyone who supported me this semester—and thank you, Berkeley. Go Bears!
