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A Beautiful Day in May

The drenched t-shirt after an epic water balloon toss turned water balloon fight, the smiles from completing an obstacle course, and the laughter of accidentally running when red-light is called instead of green-light highlight just a few special moments from PLAY Day. Bruin Belles Service Association annually hosts PLAY Day in collaboration with the Boys and Girls Club of East Los Angeles as well as UCLA Athletes. Approximately 100 kids come to UCLA for the event on a beautiful day each May. The excitement as the kids arrive and join their teams for the day is electric. Playing duck-duck-goose waiting for the rest of Team Pink last year, we bonded over our shared love of dogs, math, and carrots. We proceeded to play soccer, tug-of-war, sharks and minnows, and more throughout the course of the day with our teams comprised of Belles, UCLA Athletes, and kids from the Boys and Girls Club. I have been on the same team with some of the same kids for two years in a row, and I’m hoping that we are on the same team again for my third PLAY Day. The event is a prime opportunity to promote positive associations with college, education, and healthy lifestyles for the kids. We aim to model these values in our own behaviors and conversations with them throughout the day of the event. PLAY Day cultivates unforgettable meaning and community. I am incredi-belle-y excited as my final PLAY Day approaches in a few short weeks!

Jenny Rodstein
Distinguished Belle

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