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 adults who are homebound due to illness or disability. Our driver’s name was Ray, and he was one of the kindest individuals I’ve ever met. He told us all about his journey to Meals on Wheels and why he volunteers everyday, distributing meals and supporting the organization. We met some very sweet people and it was so fulfilling to be able to see the smiles on their faces when we handed off their food. Baby2Baby was another awesome event, where we packed basic necessities like diapers and clothing for children who are facing poverty. Hearing about the mission and the impact it has had thus far was very moving, and the woman who led our volunteering event was a prior president of Belles! She told us all about her path postgrad that led her to start working with Baby2Baby and the joy she has gotten from working with the non-profit.

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