This newsletter features stories for and by Berkeley undergraduates. If you've attended CalSO, you've already learned a bit about the campus. Postscript hopes to expand your knowledge about some of the opportunities and advantages available to you.
Siamac Ehsan, wearing the Cal Boxing Team t-shirt, has club members warm up before practice. Photo by Jenne Mowry.
Stay fit!
Cal Recreational Sports helps to balance the stress of studying and working in a rigorous academic environment (recsports.berkeley.edu; 510/642-7796; crcinfo@berkeley.edu).
The Cal Rec Club is one of the Bay Area’s most complete sports and fitness membership programs, open to Cal students, faculty, staff, and the community. The facilities include 135 pieces of cardio equipment; seven indoor basketball courts; four pools; four weight rooms; two outdoor tracks; tennis, racquetball, handball, and squash courts; and over 100 free drop-in group exercise classes per week ranging from yoga, to studio cycling, to cardio kickboxing.
The Cal Sport Club program offers students competition, instruction, and recreation in 25 sports and activities. The program offers team members professional coaching, league travel, and participation in national tournaments. The following is a list of clubs that were active last year:
Archery
Badminton
Ballroom Dancing
Boxing
Crew (Lightweight)
Cycling
Fencing
Field Hockey
Figure Skating
Gymnastics
Handball
Ice Hockey
Lacrosse (Men’s)
Racquetball
Roller Hockey
Rugby (Women’s)
Sailing
Skiing
Soccer (Men’s and Women’s)
Squash
Table Tennis
Tennis
Triathlon
Ultimate (Men’s and Women’s)
Volleyball (Men’s)
For me, some aspects of transitioning to Berkeley were more difficult than others. In high school, I had been involved in a lot of extracurricular programs, but at Cal, I found myself doing nothing but schoolwork. My daily routine was tedious, and I came to realize how important those “extra” activities were to me—how they made my days more interesting and less monotonous. Since I have been involved with sports since elementary school, I decided they would be a good addition to my college life. That’s when I joined the Cal Boxing Team.
The Cal Boxing Team is a club sport, which means that it’s student-run and competes against other colleges and universities. Club sports are essentially a step-up from intramurals; the athletes are generally more competitive and spend more time training. Since I had a few years of prior experience with the sport, it seemed natural to become involved with the boxing team. Also, my oldest sister is a Cal Boxing alumna, and she recommended joining the club. (That said, there’s no need to have prior experience or any sort of “connections” when getting involved with the team. Most newcomers start off with nothing but an interest in the sport.)
Our gym is located in the basement of the Recreational Sports Facility (RSF). While we may not be located in the prettiest area of campus, we do train hard, and we prepare well for competition. It’s easy to see the enthusiasm and excitement of our team members when they’re at the gym.
Aside from getting a strong workout and learning how to punch things, there are a few less-obvious benefits to my involvement with Cal Boxing. Our training facility has provided me a comfortable space on campus, an area where I can relax and focus completely on something I am passionate about. Simply being in the gym provides me mental comfort and stability; it is the place where I de-stress and clear my mind. The team has also provided me leadership opportunities—I am currently president of the club.
My involvement with the boxing team has been instrumental to the success of my college experience. It was much easier to meet new people in the gym, compared to the giant lecture halls on campus. In addition, I felt more comfortable as a student. In such a large University, it’s easy to feel more like a number than an individual.
Choose something that grabs your interest—regardless of how familiar you are with the activity—and get involved. I’m sure every student group on campus will provide you with the same advantages that I got from boxing. There are too many resources at Cal to be ignored. You won’t be a student forever, so take advantage of these opportunities now!
— Siamac Ehsan, Senior
Nutritional Science major
Education minor
From Sacramento, California