Bruin Belles Service Association: Blog

College burnouts are real. It can happen after grinding for a big exam, working nonstop for a few days to get a big project done, or even just after following the same schedule for a while. You are not alone. I have felt this way before – I just couldn’t get going even though I have a busy day ahead of me. Through trial and error, I have figured out a few things that have worked for me that helped me get on with my tasks: If you feel down or unmotivated, try engaging yourself in nature. Stroll around lawn areas, parks, or your favorite spot outdoors. We are in sunny California, go be in the sun! If you can procrastinate on your phone for 30 minutes, you can get out and be with nature for 10. Nature truly has the superpower to rejuvenate us by reminding us that our moods can be like the seasons – Spring always follows Winter! If you desperately need to study but are distracted by so many other things you want to do, try the 5-minute method. Just tell yourself that you are only going to ...

Spring Retreat 2023 was by far one of the highlights of my BBSA experience, for reasons I never expected. Throughout my second year in Belles I served as a Social DB, and for this retreat, was tasked with the job of heading the Activities Committee. A couple months of planning and preparation later, I was wracked with anxiety about being so in charge– what if nobody had fun? What if we planned too much? Too little? What if someone gets hurt, what if I screw up as a host, what if quite literally anything negative happens? It was a very rigid, unforgiving feeling, and I was then left with the personal expectation that I was going to get there and not be able to enjoy myself because of this pressure. I was terrified of letting anyone down, especially so because this was the first weekend retreat Belles has hosted in years. If anything went awry, I felt fully unprepared to handle it, but at least I could say I had considered the worst. I tried to take solace in that semblance of control, ...

  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...

  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 ...

Coming into my second year at UCLA, I was looking to find an organization to join that would provide me with a supportive, welcoming community amid our vast campus. I loved my first year at UCLA; however, I struggled to find my place within such a big school. It was difficult to make close friends and forge strong connections. Joining Belles in my second year completely changed this– Bruin Belles welcomed me with open arms, and I am forever grateful for the many ways that this group has shaped me.  Though this may sound very cliché, I can wholeheartedly say that joining Belles has been one of the best decisions I have made at UCLA. Belles has provided me with endless opportunities from expanding the ways I can serve the Los Angeles community to invaluable tips on bettering my personal growth. But most of all, Belles has given me endless love and beautiful friendships.  Throughout the year, I found more and more ways to become involved in the organization, and the more time I d...

While brainstorming themes with other Belles in the P.L.A.Y. Day Activities committee, this familiar phrase stuck out to us. It conjured up images of space, science, and exciting things to discover. However, most importantly, it elicited feelings of hope, courage, and infinite possibilities: what we try to create every year at P.L.A.Y. Day. And so, it was settled—this year would be a “journey through outer space,” empowering the kids to explore STEM and reach for their wildest dreams.  P.L.A.Y. Day (Players Leading Active Youth Day) is an annual event in which Belles bring the youth of East L.A. Rising together with UCLA athletes for a day of outdoor fun. Stars and national champions from UCLA sports like volleyball, football, soccer, and tennis play alongside the kids in games like tug-of-war, capture-the-flag, and relay races. Through these beloved games and a following Q&A session, the athletes empower the students to stay active, have fun, and achieve their goals in higher ...

 It’s no secret that coming to a campus as large as UCLA can be very overwhelming. With so many options for ways to become involved in campus life it can be hard to find the place where you really feel like you fit. Coming in as a transfer student I feared finding my own place within the UCLA student community. I elected to throw myself into as many activities as possible at the beginning of my first quarter, but nothing I tried really seemed to fit. I always heard from family and friends that it just takes time and so I stuck with a handful of them. Close to the end of its application period I found Bruin Belles. On a whim, and with the encouragement of friends, while home for a long weekend I decided to apply. At the time I couldn’t have known how much this last minute application could become such a crucial part of my UCLA experience. While completing my application I read through blog posts like this one that mentioned passions for community service, developing leadership skill...