Bruin Belles Service Association: Blog

The leaves have fallen, Thanksgiving Break has past, and the all turkey has been eaten.   To me, this can only mean one thing: December, the best + most magical time of the year, has finally arrived! I’ve always loved the holiday season, the sound of Christmas music on the radio, the twinkle of colorful holiday lights on the homes in my neighborhood, and the opportunity to finally break out all my warm winter coats. While this chilly month always goes hand and hand with the culmination of another quarter at UCLA and finals stress, this season always remains joyful for me when I get to spend it with my fellow Belles! A few weeks ago, on a Sunday evening leading into Week 8, a group of Belles and I went to the 18 th annual Christmas Tree Lighting Celebration at the Grove! This magical night was hosted by Leslie Odom, Jr. (the original Aaron Burr from Hamilton ) and featured special musical performances by Issac Slade of The Fray, Tori Kelly, and Aloe Blacc. The show featured the f

To paint a picture as to how Belles has impacted my life at UCLA, I’ve decided to reflect on a recent social event put on by our Public Relations office, the Alumni Brunch! A few Saturdays ago, about fifteen current Belles and fifteen Belle Alumnae gathered together at Bplate to enjoy some yummy brunch and bond over our mutual love for Belles! There was so much love in the room, and everyone from baby Belles to recent graduates and Belle alumni from literally 40 years ago were able to connect over a shared passion for philanthropy and the friendships Belles has given each and every one of us. I felt especially blessed to be a part of this particular event, because two of the Alumni in attendance were part of the very reason I joined Belles myself! When I first got into UCLA a year ago, my Aunt Carrie Khouri raved to me about some organization that she just loved during her time as a Bruin, where she met her still-best-friend Jill. I didn’t think too much of it, and figured that it pro

Having joined Bruin Belles last year as a second year, I truly can see how my college experience has been shaped by this wonderful organization. During my first year at UCLA, I felt that something was missing-- a sense of belonging to a community where I felt like I could contribute to something larger than myself and a community where I would form long lasting relationships. Bruin Belles was exactly that. Joining Belles has been one of the best decisions I’ve made here at UCLA. What makes Belles so special is that every individual is so supportive of each other. I am always so in awe of how diverse, ambitious, and inspiring everyone is! I have made so many strong friendships here. It is crazy to think that girls who were once new faces to me, are now some of my closest friends. From taking pictures at pumpkin patches to late night runs to Salt and Straw, from learning about sustainability and women’s rights to reading to kids, from singing our hearts out to High School Musical to scre