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Looking Forward to Being Together Again

As I reflect upon the past year, my heart swells with gratitude. I am so very thankful to be a part of this community. When people ask me what Bruin Belles is, I always begin with the words passionate, and compassionate. For in our multiplicity of interests, personalities, and ambitions, the shared heart of our organization is service. Whether dressed up in Belle attire or clad in old gardening clothes, some of my fondest college memories have transpired in BBSA, and I know that my time as a Bruin has been made infinitely richer through knowing and serving alongside fellow Belles.
I contemplated for a while about what I wanted to share in my blog post, and I arrived at the conclusion that while being a Belle cannot be summed up in any singular experience, one poignant thread of this organization are the car rides we share on our way to, and back from an event. Whether we are squealing with delight over a Belle alumna’s recent grad school acceptance, singing our hearts out to Dan + Shay on the way to the Rose Bowl, sharing about the challenging parts of our week, or informally debriefing the event we just served at, car rides remind me with unfailing accuracy that service starts and ends with people. 
Notably, no Belles car ride is complete without the sentence, “Did you hear about what (insert Belle’s name) just did? She (choose one) presented her own research, ran a marathon, danced for 26 hours straight, relayed for life, took my grad photos, got accepted to law school, lobbied in D.C., crushed a hack-a-thon, started a club to make sandwiches for people in our community, or published an article in the Daily Bruin. No way, I have to talk to her, I’ve been wanting to do that too.”
My time in Belles thus far has challenged the way I think about service, and I’ve learned that our impact is deepened when we share our experience and ideas with others. I am so thankful for this community, and look forward to being together again. 
Alyssa Suzuki
Philanthropy Distinguished Belle


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