What does a perfect day at UCLA actually look like?
The “day from hell” has taken over social media feeds as a trend, especially on TikTok, where creators recount chaotic chains of events that make a single day feel cursed from hell. But everyone knows there’s another side to the story.
Sometimes, you get the kind of day that feels suspiciously perfect, as if every event is blessed; essentially, it is the complete opposite of a “day from hell.” At UCLA, all Bruins have a campus fantasy, so here it is: UCLA’s day from heaven.
You’re a freshman living in a classic triple, usually haunted by unwavering heat. But today, it’s not hot; for once, you are not in sweat when you wake up, but instead you are feeling perfectly cool. Sunlight pours through your window, and you feel ready for the day. You check the weather app, and it’s a perfect 75 degrees Fahrenheit with clear skies, not pouring rain like last week.
You wake up five minutes before your alarm and remember enrollment is in a few minutes. Only, you have the earliest, most elite enrollment window imaginable. There’s no 10 p.m. panic. No feeling of impending doom. Within minutes, you secure the perfect schedule: ideal professors, ideal times and, most importantly, no Friday classes. You stare at your schedule for next quarter in disbelief. It’s beautiful.
You stroll down Bruin Walk expecting to have to act like you are on the phone so club members and protestors are not forcing fliers and petitions in your face. Except today, it’s calm and peaceful. In fact, someone is handing out free coffee, and another table has energy drinks. You aren’t forced to dodge questions but instead collect your beverages as tokens of good luck.
As you walk to class, you see an email from the professor: class is canceled. It is your only class all day, so you’re off the hook. Janss Steps are glistening in the sun and just a few steps away, so you decide to enjoy your free coffee and marinate in the sun. After a few minutes, you decide to move your sunbathing to Sunset Recreation Center. Everyone is there, tanning on the grass and playing spikeball or beach volleyball, and you are just admiring the amazing summer vibes.
You walk to get food and, miraculously, the Nom app on your phone shows less than 10% occupancy at all of the dining halls, so you go eat your favorite meal without the fear of waiting 30 minutes in line to do so. It’s delicious. Luckily, you are on the 19P meal plan, so you’re able to pick up a sweet treat at one of today’s food trucks at Rieber Court. Somehow, the line is not wrapped around the corner as usual; you arrive right when it opens. Perfect timing.
You take your sweet treat back to your optimal-temperature dorm room and see a Canvas notification. The midterm you were absolutely convinced you failed? You aced it. The cloud of anxiety that’s been hovering over your week instantly evaporates. Relief floods over you, and your already good mood is boosted.
You debate taking out your computer and doing work, but there are no assignments. No readings. No discussion posts due at 11:59 p.m. You have absolutely no work to be done thanks to your past self, so you take a nap, the kind that feels medically restorative.
You’re energized for a fun dinner with your friends, and tonight, Bruin Plate is the best it’s ever tasted, complete with the best frozen yogurt flavors. Every bite tastes like victory. After socializing with friends, you make your way to bed for a good night’s sleep. The best part? You have no anxiety over what you need to do tomorrow or what assignment you missed today. You fall asleep quickly and actually get a full night of uninterrupted, non-sweaty rest.
The perfect UCLA day from heaven.
