Skip to main content

First Year Belle: Ashlee Barone


Junior Belles at Fall Retreat

Hi everyone! My name is Ashlee Barone and I am a first year Belles! I am a third year transfer, so this is my first quarter at UCLA. Before coming to UCLA, I was definitely terrified. I was leaving the comfort of my hometown, Fresno, California, to move to a huge school in a big city. My first week was spend awkwardly trying to meet other juniors but instead mingling with freshmen that were two years younger than me. It made me for a real lonely time. All I wanted was to find my own place on this campus, somewhere I could feel a part of a little family. Then, I found Belles.

Ever since I joined Belles, my life has been a whirlwind of excitement.  I’ve gotten to do amazing things like working in the Press Box and watching Homecoming game with the best view in the Rose Bowl.  I got to work at the Grand opening of Pauley and speak to Kareem Abdul Jabbar, something that I will forever brag about. Each week, I get to choose from numerous events that bring a huge smile to those in need and also allow me to walk away with the most rewarding feeling--but that’s not it. The best thing about Belles is I get to do all of this stuff with pretty much the sweetest group of women on this planet.  I’ve made so many amazing friends because of BBSA, and for that I am so grateful.

 I finally feel like I’ve found my place.  I walk around campus with my mint green Bruin Belles shirt on, beaming with pride. I love telling loved ones about Belles and all the awesome stuff we are a part of. Each time, they are so jealous of the incredible opportunities BBSA offers.  I love being part of an organization that has a long history of helping others and representing UCLA in such a classy manner.  Joining Belles was the best decision I’ve made since being here.  I can honestly say, pretty much all of my fun, exciting moments that I’ve had at UCLA so far have been because of Belles! So thank you to every one of you gorgeous Belles and can’t wait to make even more amazing memories. I love you all!
Belles at the Grand Reopening of Pauley Pavilion

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

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...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Bruin Belles Community

When asked what Bruin Belles is all about, we summarize our focus on community service and women’s leadership, as we are united under these integral fundamentals. Yet, the experience of Bruin Belles extends far beyond those five words. Bruin Belles as an organization and the Belles in it are incredibly well-rounded. Attending community service events, campus sports and arts events, and women’s leadership events throughout every quarter connects Belles to fellow Belles, fellow students, the UCLA community, and the Los Angeles community at large. The wholistic nature of the events and goals of Bruin Belles provides Belles with the opportunity to enrich their UCLA experience. The significance of all the experiences that Bruin Belles provides is augmented by the caliber of the women themselves. Every Belle with whom I’ve had the incredible opportunity of becoming friends with is grounded, passionate, ambitious, and compassionate. I don’t use these words lightly. Regardless of major or inte...
Post a Comment
Read more

A Sense of Belonging

Being surrounded by the incredibly driven, selfless and compassionate individuals that are Bruin Belles has been so fundamental to me finding a sense of belonging at the immensely intimidating and overwhelming institution that is UCLA. I am continually inspired by the ubiquitous drive to serve and learn among belles, despite the wide diversity of academic interests, campus involvements, and career aspirations. BBSA has allowed me to give, learn, and grow in ways I would have never expected, all while having a lot of fun. Some of my best memories range from making meaningful connections over coffee at Kerckhoff, engaging in hands-on philanthropy projects, and networking with incredible alumni and connected professionals.  To be frank, this quarter was both mentally and physically exhausting for me as I continue on my search to find my interests and niche at UCLA. However, seeing Belles every week kept me energized, positive, and motivated as I navigated through draining back-to...
Post a Comment
Read more