2010 UC Berkeley Medalist was a transfer student

Transfer Students UC Transfers
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<p>This is an antidote to that whiny "transfer students are subpar" thread on the UC Berkeley CC forum. I was super proud to hear this guy speak - he is an inspiration to all of us and shows that transfer students are definitely keeping their own at a school like Cal. </p>

<p>2010 University Medalist Josh Biddle's speech at Commencement:
05.17.2010</a> - Speak out</p>

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[quote]
I enrolled at City College of San Francisco in the spring of 2005 and transferred to UC Berkeley in the fall of 2008. During that time, I volunteered at San Francisco General, studied drug-resistant cancer at UCSF, and was a medical assistant at the Glide Health Clinic. At Berkeley, I've been a member of the Biology Scholars Program, investigated how experience becomes biologically embedded, and spent two semesters as part of the Teach in Prison program at San Quentin. I'm starting UCSF medical school in the fall and now I've won the University Medal.</p>

<p>But I assure you it hasn't always been this good. It certainly wasn't like this at San Rafael High where I spent three years using all my energy to keep the world at arms length. It wasn't like this when I went to the University of Wisconsin thinking I could run away from my confusion, and then dropping out after only one semester. It wasn't like this when I came home and enrolled at the College of Marin only to find my old habits waiting for me. And it certainly wasn't like this when 9 years ago I enrolled in a therapeutic boarding program in Boulder, Colorado.

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<p>Amazing. I loved these lines, especially:</p>

<p>“I try to treat the self-doubt that greets me every morning as motivation to do better. I honor the homeless men and woman trapped in the dungeons of their addictions who explore the truly dark places of this world so I don’t have to. I remind myself to think of this diploma not as a symbol of my accomplishment but as a reminder to return to the communities who don’t have Berkeley graduates to fight on their behalf.”</p>

<p>“But the most important thing I know is this, just tell your story. Share yourself with those around you, the good parts and bad. I know it isn’t easy, but it helps. I promise. And anyway, you’re too beautiful to keep it to yourself.”</p>

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<p>such a good sunshine story :)</p>

<p>i love you Josh Biddle :*</p>

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<p>Some say he was subpar because he was the first ever, I think that’s ridiculous. XD </p>

<p>Grats to the dude, seriously :smiley: It’s a nice thing!</p>

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<p>His speech on youtube–> Fast forward to 1:03:32
[YouTube</a> - 2010 Commencement Convocation](<a href=“http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDLtEcBqSv8]YouTube”>http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nDLtEcBqSv8)</p>

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<p>I am Old Blue, and I seem to recall something similar happening in the late 60’s when a transfer got the University medal.</p>