Nasir Asad: Making the Most of Life at UCI
Nasir Asad is a 3rd-year double-major in political science and international studies. Having known him for only a year, I am still astounded over how involved he is on campus. So, when you ask students how easy it is to be involved and make friends, people will probably mention Nasir.
So Nasir, what are you involved with this year?
“This upcoming year I will be an active member in several organizations including Academic Affairs Assistant chief of staff, Mesa Court Residential Advisor, Anteater Mentorship Program, SPOP (Student Parent Orientation Program), and Campus Representative.”
What are your favorite involvements?
“My favorite involvements have to be the ones where I can directly interact with the people I'm meant to impact. I really love campus reps and SPOP because I constantly get to help and interact with amazing people and I always feel like I'm being utilized and helping those around me.”
Any least favorite involvements?
“My least favorite involvements are probably intern positions on campus. That's usually where people start when they're getting involved but I really dislike those positions because I always feel as though I'm just doing busy work or not being utilized and when I am being utilized it never feels as though I'm having much personal interaction or making any difference at all.”
What are your favorite moments from these involvements?
2017 Student Parent Orientation Program (SPOP) student staff.
“My favorite memories from my involvements (in this case SPOP) are seeing my spoppers (incoming first year students) outside of orientation. A lot of my spoppers have come back into my life either as my friends, mentees, coworkers, etc. Seeing my spoppers from last year so nervous and confused at SPOP and then seeing them just a few months later, very involved and thriving on campus was my favorite memory from SPOP last year.”
Why did you get involved?
“I initially got involved for 2 reasons. The first was that I commuted my first year and I saw it as the only way I'd be able to have any sort of social life on campus. Meeting people was hard enough for someone shy like me and opportunities were limited as a commuter so it felt like the best way to find a community. The second reason was because I wanted to make the most of my college experience. I wanted to turn over every stone, try everything that interested me, and make sure I graduated and looked back without feeling any sense of regret for the things I didn't do. I graduated high school regretting not pushing myself to be more involved or challenging myself to exit my comfort zone and I promised myself I wouldn't do that again.”
Lastly, how has all of this benefited you?
“Getting involved on campus has benefited me far beyond what I ever imagined. Academically I have found a support system of people to study with, hold each-other accountable, and receive helpful advice from. Socially I have found many communities I feel comfortable in and the best friends I have ever made were all made in my first 2 years of college. Career-wise was where I was most surprised because through my friends and involvements I have found many career-advancing opportunities, from working at the law school to interning at a law office to becoming a campus rep, all because a friend through one of my involvements made me aware of those opportunities.”
So, for all of you incoming students that are worried about whether or not getting involved will help you get the most out of your experience here at UCI, take notes from Nasir and trust me when I say that I made my fondest memories and greatest friends through involving myself here. If I hadn’t done so, I wouldn’t have met amazing people like Nasir.
