something i noticed
i have talked very highly of the summer bridge program many times in my blogs and to people that i come across both on and off campus. i talk about the great relationships that i built while i was a student in the program, and the fun memories that we shared during that month in 1999 at argo hall in ucsd. even the summer bridge pride that i carried on throughout my first 2 years at ucsd were expressed because of the great experiences that i had. but something that i have noticed over the past couple of years is that i have grown distant from many of the my summer bridge friends that i made during that summer before my first year. and after thinking about it a little further, i begin to wonder whether or not i was fully included among the groups that formed from bridge. as recently as this past friday, i was at a birthday party for Christine Lucero (who didnt go to summer bridge), there were a lot of people there who went to my bridge. i noticed that many of the people who hung out together during and after bridge, were still hanging out with each other. they were dancing, and having a good time together. i even saw some people that i hung out with, hanging out with other people...or chillin with others who i was close with during the program. it got me thinking...why don't i hang out with them anymore? why arent the bonds that i formed with these people just 3 1/2 years ago, not as strong as they once were? why don't i talk to my suitemates anymore? why are other peoples bonds that were formed at the same time mine were, still there? i used to think that i would be close with all of these people because we had summer bridge love for each other...and the summer bridge pride was really flowing during my first couple of years. but now...i feel like i have drifted away from many of these people. i mean, there are a few who i still talk to, and still chill with (you know who u are), and we all still have summer bridge '99 pride and love...but i'm disappointed that my bonds with almost everybody else has weakened to passing familiarity. maybe it's cuz i was a commuter for all 4 years i've gone to ucsd, and the others had easy access to each other since they lived close to each other on campus...maybe it's cuz we just grew apart. i dunno what happened. if i could turn back time to my first year here at ucsd...i would have tried to maintain those bonds that i formed during bridge, and made myself more accessible to those who i had relationships with. time is running out at ucsd for the graduated high school class of 1999, since about half are graduating in june, and the rest of us have up to a year left here...i will still remain true to the spirit of SB '99...let's see how things turn out with them '99ers. stay tuned...we'll be back after these messages =/