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Finding My Community

Coming onto campus for the first time as a sophomore was especially daunting. Similar to most people, transitioning to in-person classes and dorm life was challenging. As I attended classes and other club meetings, I felt like I might have missed out on opportunities during the online year to reach out to people and make friends.


Stuck with random roommates and no close friends on campus, I felt very isolated. This wasn’t the college experience that I had imagined. But then I started attending Belles meetings and events, and things began to slowly click into place. 


Bruin Belles is such a uniquely amazing community where everyone is passionate about so many different things in terms of both academics and personal interests. The Belles community inspired me then and continues to encourage me to push the boundaries of my academic and professional pursuit, to put myself out there, and to carry a positive and optimistic attitude into all my endeavors.


From volunteering at the LA Times Festival of Books, to attending movie nights, festive socials, Baby Belle brunches and retreats, I was able to really cultivate some of my own passions outside of class. I was able to learn more about myself and I found some of my closest friends in this tight-knit sisterhood.


Bruin Belles helped me carve a space in the larger UCLA community where I could connect with others and grow to be more confident and adventurous.


Belle Love,

Ishika Seth
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion DB

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