University of California, San Diego

The University of California, San Diego enters the narrative through a summer marine-biology program attended by Nic Sheff after his sophomore year of high school. The campus becomes more than a place to check in: the program brings together classroom study, surfing, and scuba certification, briefly giving Nic a concrete glimpse of a possible future in marine science.

Program and Setting

As Nic’s sophomore year draws to a close, Don tells him about a summer program at the University of California, San Diego devoted to marine biology. Nic brings home its brochure and application and asks to attend; after his mother and father confer, he applies. In late June, his father drives him from San Diego to the campus in La Jolla and helps him check in. Nic is nervous, but the welcoming students and the sight of several surfboards among their belongings help him feel at ease.

Study and Activities

Nic keeps in frequent telephone contact with his family during the program and reports that he is enjoying himself. He says he may want to become a marine biologist, an aspiration that grows directly out of the subject he is studying. Several participants surf before classes, walking down the steep trail to Black’s Beach in the early morning. Nic also decides to complete the camp’s scuba-diving certification program. During a night dive near Catalina Island, he swims with a pod of dolphins, an experience that stands out among the activities he recounts from the summer.

Place in Nic’s Story

The program offers a concentrated interval of independence and discovery: Nic is away from home, forms connections with other students, and explores an academic interest through both study and outdoor activities. Its promise is specific rather than conclusive. He considers marine biology as a possible career, but the account presents this as an emerging interest, not a settled decision. When the program ends, Vicki picks him up; he spends the remainder of the summer in Los Angeles before returning home to prepare for junior year.