Hey everyone! Welcome to A Day in My Life at Caltech! 🌞
Honestly, every day here is an adventure — part chaos, part excitement. There are moments when things don’t go as planned, when deadlines hit hard, and when I’m running on caffeine and determination. But that’s also what keeps it fun. There’s always something new to learn, something unexpected around the corner, and a sense of purpose in every little win. So, come spend the day with me — through the hustle, the coffee breaks, the struggle, and the sparks of creativity — and see what life at Caltech really feels like!
A simple day in my life…
So yeah… that’s a day in my life at Caltech. Balancing everything here — classes, research, athletics, and just existing — is honestly one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. There’s never enough time. Some days I go from lectures straight to practice, then back to the library, and by the time I finally sit still, I realize I haven’t really paused to just be.
Caltech is truly a place for strong hearts and strong minds. Everyone here is brilliant — the kind of people who push boundaries and question everything. But behind all that brilliance, we’re human. We came here as the best from our high schools, and now we’re surrounded by others who were also the best. That can be intimidating. No matter how much I accomplish, I often feel like I’m still behind — like I’m running a race where the finish line keeps moving.
And yet, I’ve learned to see meaning in that struggle. The challenge is what shapes us. It’s like a quiet test of resilience — not just of how much we can do, but of how we carry ourselves when things get heavy.
If I’m being real, being here can also get lonely. I’m far from home, far from family, and sometimes it hits me how much I miss the comfort of familiarity — the smell of home-cooked meals, the sound of people who’ve known me forever. So, I stay busy. It’s not just about keeping up with my schedule — it’s how I protect my mental health. Staying in motion gives me purpose; it’s how I keep nostalgia from taking over. As an international student, it is hard, but being able to do so many things helps me keep going.
I think in a way, Caltech becomes a kind of philosophy — about persistence, curiosity, and humility. It teaches you that falling behind doesn’t mean failing. It means you’re in a place that demands everything from you, because it believes you’re capable of giving it.
So, if you ever feel overwhelmed, or alone in the chaos — remember, you’re not the only one. We’re all figuring it out, one day at a time. And that’s what makes us stronger — not perfection, but perseverance.
