Jose Ubeda: Capturing the journey, turning the page

Over the course of three years, I have oftentimes found myself looking down at my phone at a particular set of words: “Hey Jose, can you take a shoot?” Despite the fact that I had received the same message time and time again, from multiple editors, it never failed to evoke the feeling of déjà vu as I put the phone down. After a few minutes of frantically running through my mental schedule, I’d type up the usual response, “Hey, sorry I’m busy today,” and not even pay it a second thought.

Now, if you’re like me, when you get to the end of a great read, there’s always that little part of you that doesn’t want to turn the page because you realize that once you do, that’s it. The story ends and the words that captivated you the entire time slowly fade away, out of sight and out of mind. As my time as a Bruin slowly ticks down, I find myself constantly hoping that I don’t have to turn the page, not on the time that I have left here at UCLA, but on the time left that I have with the Daily Bruin.

You see, as three years of being a photographer for the Daily Bruin wrap up, I’ve come to realize just how incredible the office really is.

From coming together to create incredible coverage of the LGBT community in Malawi to frantically responding to the Sunset Boulevard water main break that unfortunately graced our campus, I have never seen an office so full of individuals with a burning passion for journalism. Even when the Daily Bruin’s independence was challenged last year, the cramped space that many generations before us have come to love was resilient and held firm.

I’ve seen three years worth of editors in chief, top and assistant editors and countless contributors come and go. During each of these years, I’ve seen lifelong friendships form, incredible job opportunities obtained and even a relationship or two come to fruition.

On the verge of commencement, the thought of walking through the front door of Kerckhoff Hall into the office for one of the last times makes me regret many things. I didn’t take enough shoots. I should have made a bigger effort. Why did I not push myself as I saw so many other photogs do?

As this last worry comes to mind, I always find a way to stop myself. I think back to the excitement I felt when I was first training as a contributor. I think about the incredibly talented individuals that I’ve met along the way, some of whom have gone on to shoot for Sports Illustrated, USA Today Sports and Getty Images. I think about the never-ending laughs, meme creations and stressed looks on editors’ faces and realize that I could not be any more grateful to have been a part of the Daily Bruin.

People often worry because their plans go astray, and life doesn’t work in their favor. Yet, what many fail to realize is that when you step onto this campus and feel the nostalgia wash over you as you stroll past your usual hangout spots, you’ll realize that it was every event along the way to graduation that truly defined your four-year undergraduate journey.

My undergraduate journey was full of many events and much debauchery, but the Daily Bruin was always there. While I’m still a long way off from my ultimate goal – medical school – being a Daily Bruin photographer has reinforced the wisdom my dad imparts to me every time I’m about to start a new journey: La paciencia es un don.

Spanish for “Patience is a virtue.”

Ubeda was a Photo contributor from 2012-2013 and a Photo staffer from 2013-2015.