Skip to main content

First Year Belle: Ashlee Barone


Junior Belles at Fall Retreat

Hi everyone! My name is Ashlee Barone and I am a first year Belles! I am a third year transfer, so this is my first quarter at UCLA. Before coming to UCLA, I was definitely terrified. I was leaving the comfort of my hometown, Fresno, California, to move to a huge school in a big city. My first week was spend awkwardly trying to meet other juniors but instead mingling with freshmen that were two years younger than me. It made me for a real lonely time. All I wanted was to find my own place on this campus, somewhere I could feel a part of a little family. Then, I found Belles.

Ever since I joined Belles, my life has been a whirlwind of excitement.  I’ve gotten to do amazing things like working in the Press Box and watching Homecoming game with the best view in the Rose Bowl.  I got to work at the Grand opening of Pauley and speak to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, something that I will forever brag about. Each week, I get to choose from numerous events that bring a huge smile to those in need and also allow me to walk away with the most rewarding feeling--but that’s not it. The best thing about Belles is I get to do all of this stuff with pretty much the sweetest group of women on this planet.  I’ve made so many amazing friends because of BBSA, and for that I am so grateful.

 I finally feel like I’ve found my place.  I walk around campus with my mint green Bruin Belles shirt on, beaming with pride. I love telling loved ones about Belles and all the awesome stuff we are a part of. Each time, they are so jealous of the incredible opportunities BBSA offers.  I love being part of an organization that has a long history of helping others and representing UCLA in such a classy manner.  Joining Belles was the best decision I’ve made since being here.  I can honestly say, pretty much all of my fun, exciting moments that I’ve had at UCLA so far have been because of Belles! So thank you to every one of you gorgeous Belles and can’t wait to make even more amazing memories. I love you all!
Belles at the Grand Reopening of Pauley Pavilion

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

What I Didn't Know

  What I didn't know The morning after I got the highly anticipated call that I got into Bruin Belles, I found this bell (figure 1) on my dorm door: a door belle…get it? I can still very clearly remember the few weeks surrounding this moment. I wanted it SO BADLY! When I saw the Belles tri-fold at the enormous activities fair, I knew immediately that I needed to be a part of that community. On paper, it sounded like everything I wanted: a group of likeminded passionate women who did community service together and other social events. I worked tirelessly on my application and was so nervous for my interview that I signed up for the very first slot (Monday at 8am… yikes). I got the long-awaited call late on a Friday night. Yashvi, the public relations director at the time, told me that I had gotten in, and while still on the phone I screamed “I GOT IN!” to my roommate. My heart was beating so fast. However, I think if I had known what was to come, my heart would have beat so fast it ...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Senior's Reflection

A Senior's Reflection   As my time at UCLA and Belles comes to an end, I want to reflect on all the experiences I’ve been lucky enough to have over the past years. I am so grateful to be surrounded by so many great people, many of whom I have found through Belles. This community has given me so much and I could not be more appreciative. It provided such a welcoming and open space for me to grow as a person when I first arrived on campus at UCLA after a full year of online school. With the time I have been given in Westwood,  I have been challenged academically, learned to embrace independence and time alone, and have learned more about myself in the process. That is truly a gift.   That being said, some of my favorite and most impactful Belle events have been Meals on Wheels and Baby2Baby. Meals on Wheels was an amazing experience, and I truly felt like I was making a difference in the community. Through this organization, we packed meals and distributed them to older adu...
Post a Comment
Read more

Finding My Home

  My time as a Bruin Belle has been incredibly transformative. This exceptional group of empowered women has not only enriched my college experience but also inspired me to make a lasting impact on the world. Entering UCLA, I was eager to find a community that aligned with my passion for service and personal growth. Joining the Bruin Belles provided that and more—a warm embrace within the vast UCLA landscape. At the core of our experience is our dedication to service, from local volunteer work to impactful fundraisers. We take action, build connections, and create change within our community. Being a Belle has given me the opportunity to volunteer for initiatives such as dog adoption, environmental activism, food insecurity, education advocacy, and houselessness. Through volunteering in various areas of our community, I have found purpose and a newfound passion for advocacy. Additionally, BBSA is more than a service organization to me; we are a sisterhood that fosters leadership. T...
Post a Comment
Read more