My Time in Berkeley: What I’ve Learned and What Needs to Change
By: Morsal Azimi
When I got my acceptance to UC Berkeley, I felt like I was holding a golden ticket. After years of navigating an unfamiliar education system as a first-generation immigrant and transfer student, I am finally about to graduate from the top public university in the world. But as I stand just weeks away from earning my bachelor’s degree, I find myself reflecting not only on what I’ve accomplished, but also on how challenging this journey has been.
Berkeley changed my life. It introduced me to brilliant peers, passionate faculty, and countless opportunities I never imagined possible. But it also exposed me to the painful realities of what it means to be a low-income, first-generation student at a school that’s struggling to meet the needs of its most vulnerable students.
I came to Berkeley, like many others, with big goals and a tight budget. And although I receive financial aid, the true cost of attending school in the Bay Area goes far beyond tuition. Summer classes, for example, are only covered up to a certain unit and anything beyond that must be paid out-of-pocket. Add to that the cost of textbooks, school supplies, and commuting expenses like BART, and it becomes clear just how many financial hurdles students face just to stay on track to graduate.
It’s not just students who are struggling. In my two years here, I’ve seen multiple staff strikes, including custodians, graduate student instructors, and shuttle drivers, because our university doesn’t pay them fairly. There were times when campus shuttles were canceled altogether, making it harder for students to get to class or feel safe after dark. Meanwhile, millions are being poured into campus renovations. While improvements to infrastructure are important, they shouldn’t come at the cost of fair wages and basic student services.
And as an immigrant, I’ve been especially troubled by the stories of ICE presence on campus and visa issues affecting international students. News like that doesn’t just cause panic, it can derail someone’s entire academic future. No one should have to study under that kind of fear and uncertainty.
My time at Berkeley has made me deeply proud, but also deeply aware of how much work still needs to be done. Public education in California is in crisis, not because students aren’t trying, but because the system is underfunded and increasingly inaccessible. However, there is a solution. If Californians reformed Prop 13, we could restore billions of dollars to our public education system. That funding could help provide affordable tuition, fair wages for staff, better mental health services, and stronger support for immigrant and first-gen students, without having to choose between essential services and campus improvements.
I’m proud to have made it to Berkeley, but even more than that, I want to make sure students like me can come after me, and not just survive here, but thrive. Reforming Prop 13 would be a powerful step toward making that future possible.