Skip to main content

The New Lana


I will never forget this conversation with my mom last year. She said “I like this new Lana, you seem happier.” It came out of nowhere but really encompassed how I was feeling. This was about one month into my acceptance into Bruin Belles, and I knew that it was the reason for my newfound optimism. In my first two years at UCLA, I joined a sorority hoping to find a community to belong to on such a big campus. Even though I had a great experience there, something was missing. When I had heard about Bruin Belles at the end of my second year, I was so excited to apply! It sounded like a great, service-oriented community. Bruin Belles has turned out to be so much more than just an organization- it became my home.

Bruin Belles has made me a better student, professional, friend, leader and just overall a better person. I have had the honor of meeting absolutely radiant women of different backgrounds and majors who truly inspire and support me everyday. I remember being at Open House as an applicant and thinking this is too good to be true, but when you have such a fantastic group of people it just works. In other organizations, I would treat meetings like chores, feeling unexcited but forced to attend. Surprisingly, Belles meeting is usually the highlight of my week! I’ve learned so much in Belles, about myself and my community. My only regret is not joining sooner! I am so so grateful and proud of my home in Bruin Belles! I definitely became a new, happier Lana.


Lana Homsi
Distinguished Belle






Comments

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 ...

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...

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...