Pretty in Pink at Brides Against Breast Cancer's Charity Bridal Show

One of the most memorable events I attended this quarter was the Brides Against Breast Cancer Bridal Show. Breast cancer is something that hits close to home, so when this event was offered I immediately jumped at the opportunity to get involved. The event was hosted in Ventura, CA and featured an endless array of new and donated wedding gowns to be purchased by brides. All the proceeds from the event were donated to a wonderful cause, providing care services to cancer patients, caregivers, and families. I had the privilege of helping brides pick out their perfect wedding gown in hopes that they would say “YES to the dress!” It was such a privilege to volunteer with Brides Against Breast Cancer and I am so grateful to be a part of Bruin Belles for allowing me the opportunity to work with such wonderful organizations.

Caiti Lew

Distinguished Belle

Third Year Bruin Belle

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Imposter Syndrome and Finding Myself

The person I was when I stepped on campus 4 years ago is unrecognizable to me now. I came to college knowing that I wanted to be pre-med but having no friends or family following a similar path, I felt so lost in navigating my path on my own. I started college being terrified of failing. I was so naive and so desperate to succeed I was not taking care of myself. My second year was when I reached my lowest point. I was so depressed and lonely, I considered leaving UCLA. I did not feel smart enough to be there, I didn’t feel likable enough because I didn’t really have friends. Joining Belles in my junior year was a big part of completely transforming my UCLA experience. Belles was the first time I felt completely embraced by a group of people. It was the first space in which I felt like everyone truly wanted the best for each other. The people and the opportunity to help others were exactly what my heart needed at that time in my life. Service is something that is so incredibly importan

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Coming onto campus for the first time as a sophomore was especially daunting. Similar to most people, transitioning to in-person classes and dorm life was challenging. As I attended classes and other club meetings, I felt like I might have missed out on opportunities during the online year to reach out to people and make friends. Stuck with random roommates and no close friends on campus, I felt very isolated. This wasn’t the college experience that I had imagined. But then I started attending Belles meetings and events, and things began to slowly click into place. Bruin Belles is such a uniquely amazing community where everyone is passionate about so many different things in terms of both academics and personal interests. The Belles community inspired me then and continues to encourage me to push the boundaries of my academic and professional pursuit, to put myself out there, and to carry a positive and optimistic attitude into all my endeavors. From volunteering at the LA Times Fest

What I Didn't Know

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