Bruin Belles Service Association: Blog

Being a part of Bruin Belles is undeniably unique because there is no other organization at UCLA that allows a person to undergo professional development, participate in campus traditions, and engage in rewarding philanthropy events all in one place. Although Bruin Belles makes a profound impact on the community when you look at the organization as a whole, the true secret to what makes Belles so special actually lies within each member. The success of BBSA is only possible because of the way that each individual Belle leads her life with selflessness, compassion, and confidence. I’ve witnessed these qualities embodied in every single Belle, but we’ve all heard countless times that you don’t really know someone until you’ve lived with them, and I was fortunate enough to test this theory by spending a straight 72 hours with a group of ten Belles on a recent trip to Lake Arrowhead. Whether we were discovering cheesecake in a cup, hiking on the set of The Parent Trap, or blastin...

One of my favorite parts of Belles are Belle families which are essentially little “families” within Bruin Belles where everyone has a Big Belle and Little Belle. At our annual winter retreat, we run around campus in our pajamas, playing games and uncovering who our Little Belle or Big Belle is going to be. My sophomore year, we were given clues throughout the night to figure out who our Big/Little Bell was going to be. We had filled out a questionnaire earlier that week and they used those clues to give to your pair. I still remember that for the question “Who is one of you woman role models?” I wrote Marie Curie. Then, when I received my Little Belle’s answer, it was Marie Curie as well! I then knew the match with my friend, Liz, was meant to be <3. As a family, we bake together, go out to dinner, do homework, and just hang out. It’s a great way to become better friends with different woman in the organization and is one of my favorite Belle traditions. Amberly Bark Distinguish...

When asked what Bruin Belles is all about, we summarize our focus on community service and women’s leadership, as we are united under these integral fundamentals. Yet, the experience of Bruin Belles extends far beyond those five words. Bruin Belles as an organization and the Belles in it are incredibly well-rounded. Attending community service events, campus sports and arts events, and women’s leadership events throughout every quarter connects Belles to fellow Belles, fellow students, the UCLA community, and the Los Angeles community at large. The wholistic nature of the events and goals of Bruin Belles provides Belles with the opportunity to enrich their UCLA experience. The significance of all the experiences that Bruin Belles provides is augmented by the caliber of the women themselves. Every Belle with whom I’ve had the incredible opportunity of becoming friends with is grounded, passionate, ambitious, and compassionate. I don’t use these words lightly. Regardless of major or inte...