(Although this is mostly dedicated for UCSC students, everyone is more than welcome to participate in it.)

New Year’s Resolutions are neither fun nor realistic. We promise ourselves to become better friends, better lovers, better sons and daughters; as if that is something easily accomplished. There is something about New Year’s resolutions that bring a negative connotation, almost as if we already know we won’t actually apply them to our everyday lives. Bucket lists, however, seem to have a different kind of connotation (as far as I’m concerned!) While resolutions appeal to me as an obligation, bucket lists are a challenge. Those annoying lists of endless resolutions we always make on December 31st reflect how we’d like to improve our lives, which is not always bad; nevertheless, bucket lists beg us to live our lives to the very fullest.

Whether you are planning to come to UCSC in the future or you are graduating this year, it is never too late to declare having the ultimate Santa Cruz experience. So my dearest banana slugs, with help from the Reddit community, I present to you the UCSC Bucket list.

UCSC First Rain: Luckily someone has already made a website for this quirky tradition, read on here. Kiss a banana slug. Okay, I know these are all very simple but I’m just trying to ease you guys in! Go on a night hike. In order to truly appreciate the campus of UC Santa Cruz, you must go deep into the forest. “Climb a tree that rivals tree 9, and go up at dusk to sit at the very top and watch the sunset and contemplate life.”—Kfblade Watch the sun rise from the Porter Squiggle. Get straight As for at least one quarter. After you work really hard, it will feel incredibly rewarding—trust me. Discover the Porter Caves. Attend a full moon drum circle. “Midnight Movies at the Del Mar”–nhthomps “Visiting Boulder Creek Brewery and Big Basin, picnicking in a meadow in upper campus.”–kelsee Check out the local music scene:Don Quixote, The Crepe Place, Rio Theatre, and The Catalyst. Get involved with an organization you are truly passionate about. Pull at least two all-nighters. One with friends and one for school. They will both be absolutely worth it.

And if you guys are curious on checking out the uncensored Reddit feed, follow this link.

P.S. This list is imperfect. Let those bullet points adapt to your lifestyle and what you hope to achieve from your years at UC Santa Cruz, and feel free to insert your own ideas to the UCSC Bucket List by adding your comment below.

Have a wonderful Winter Quarter fellow slugs,

Jesy Odio