Bruin Belles Service Association: Blog

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...

 Surrounded by Inspirational Women Belles has provided me with a community of women who are nothing short of breathtaking. Every social or volunteering event I have attended in these past couple of years, I have always been accompanied by a powerful group of women. Everyone in this organization has so much to offer and amazing lessons to share, from professional tips to learning how to knit; the Bruin Belles community truly has it all. At the beginning of the Fall quarter, I hosted a pumpkin painting social where I was accompanied by six amazing individuals. This night was filled with endless laughter, exciting life updates, and future aspirations. I will always look back on this event fondly, as I was impressed by everyone's career and personal goals. It has been a privilege to be surrounded by so many amazing individuals who have inspired me to push myself to new boundaries. Each and every single Belle embodies so much love, kindness, and wisdom. They have all shown up for me in ...

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...

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 ...

  As a second year transfer and a senior, I could not be happier that I am closing out my year with Belles as the Community Outreach Co-Director. Transferring from a community college in the Bay Area, I lacked a sense of community in the Los Angeles area that held similar interests to mine. I had engaged in extensive community service while I was at community college, and I knew I wanted to continue serving but I did not want to be limited to one cause. BBSA explores service in a multitude of communities, and we have worked with organizations like Dress for Success, Share a Meal, Baby2Baby, Harvest Home, and more. In an institution as large as UCLA, it is easy to feel consumed and overwhelmed, feel alienated from the rest of your peers, and experience “FOMO” as many may say. While I did not have the typical college experience, as many of us did not due to the pandemic, I was able to join a community of like-minded women that represented what I was seeking.  While we are focuse...

One year ago today, I was working on my application for Bruin Belles. As I think back to that time of my life, I remember the immense sense of uncertainty I felt. Would Belles like me as much as I liked them? I look back at this time of my life, a mere 365 days ago, and hardly recognize the person I was. Belles has been a large part of this personal journey.  When I applied to BBSA, I was just beginning my junior year at UCLA. My first year had been cut short because of the Covid-19 pandemic, and my second year of college was entirely online. Determined to make the most out of the later half of my undergraduate career, I applied to Belles. I was resolute on finding a community that made UCLA feel like home (as cliche as it sounds) while supporting my personal and academic growth. After attending my first Belles event, I knew I had found what I was looking for (and more).  As an organization, BBSA has given me invaluable opportunities to serve the Los Angeles community, allowed...

I remember when I joined BBSA my first year. It was the COVID year — the year where the entire year was spent online. I joined BBSA on a whim as I sought to get involved with something outside of my usual course-load, and BBSA seemed to be a nice fit for everything that I wanted. More than anything, I wanted a community, and although I knew all interactions would be virtual, I wanted to meet other women who shared the same empathetic lens from which I view community. I met amazing people my first year at BBSA, and although I was slightly intimidated by the many accomplished members and alumni that clearly held BBSA with high regard, I found a vessel from which to channel my desire to help as well as foster a sense of self within the UCLA community that I had yet to feel completely immersed in. One of my favorite things about BBSA are the social activities that we have throughout the year that help to bond with other Belles and find those that you share common interests with. A memory...

My freshman year at UCLA was anything but normal. We were in the middle of a global pandemic, and the entirety of my first year was online. Although classes were fully virtual, I was privileged to have the opportunity to move to Westwood. Being away from my family for the first time was tough, and all I wanted was to have a community of friends I could lean on. Coming from Arizona, I believed the best way I could do this was through joining a sorority. I started the process of rush, but found myself questioning whether the process was right for me after being dropped from several houses. I felt defeated that it did not work out for me as the community I so greatly desired was not found. Amongst feeling disappointed about the rush process, my mom, a UCLA alum, told me to look into Bruin Belles. Bruin Belles was an organization that existed while she was a student, but she had never joined it. I looked into it and applied, and the rest was history. I had finally found the community that ...

I remember going home most weekends when I started my first year at UCLA. I was overwhelmed and felt a little lost (as many freshmen do, even if nobody says so). On one of those weekends at home, I told my mom how I didn’t feel like I had a community that made UCLA feel like home. My parents are both UCLA alum, and she brought up her time in Bruin Belles. She was uncertain if the org was still around, but sure enough, we looked it up and found BBSA thriving. I immediately started going through the website and came across some Blog Posts, like the one you are reading now. After reading about the experiences of previous Belles, I decided to apply. It is crazy to think that I am now sitting here writing my testimony, hoping that it inspires you to join, too!  Bruin Belles has lived up to everything I hoped it would and more. This group is full of the most wonderful women I have ever met, and everybody is so supportive of one another. Everyone is incredibly genuine and just wants the b...

The person I was when I stepped on campus 4 years ago is unrecognizable to me now. I came to college knowing that I wanted to be pre-med but having no friends or family following a similar path, I felt so lost in navigating my path on my own. I started college being terrified of failing. I was so naive and so desperate to succeed I was not taking care of myself. My second year was when I reached my lowest point. I was so depressed and lonely, I considered leaving  UCLA. I did not feel smart enough to be there, I didn’t feel likable enough because I didn’t really have friends. Joining Belles in my junior year was a big part of completely transforming my UCLA experience. Belles was the first time I felt completely embraced by a group of people. It was the first space in which I felt like everyone truly wanted the best for each other. The people and the opportunity to help others were exactly what my heart needed at that time in my life. Service is something that is so incredibly impo...

Without a doubt, I don’t think I could have ever imagined my college experience without Belles. The immediate sense of belonging and love I feel from Belles is beyond imaginable and I know applying for Belles was one of my best decisions at UCLA. As an incoming freshman, the year was extremely daunting. I knew practically no one who would be attending UCLA and the only thing I could remember from my first few weeks was my dorm room walls. Being extremely shy, I had yet to establish any secure friendships.  Looking back, I know now that I could have probably tired a little harder, but this also would have never happened without joining BBSA. Upon seeing Belles at the activities fair and then at open house, I was astounded at the sense of sisterhood and support network Belles practically radiated. Even during the interview process (where I’m pretty sure I constantly said “I’m so sorry. I’m so nervous”), every Belle comforted me and allowed me to become more expressive and open. ...

  When I look back at my first two years at UCLA, the differences between the two are immediately noticeable. By the time my second year was in full gear, I was more comfortable, doing better in my classes, and making memories that I knew would stick with me for a lifetime. This change in my college experience was no coincidence- it was a result of joining Bruin Belles.     Freshman year, as it tends to be for many of us, was quite the difficult transition for me to make. Going from living in the same town for my entire life and having been constantly surrounded by family and friends to being on a huge campus over a thousand miles from home was something that I don’t know how I could have prepared myself for. That first year was a lot of trial and error- with extracurriculars, with classes, with my major- any and every part of my life felt like it was undecided and thinking about the future was a daunting task that I avoided at all costs. I often found myself questio...

This year, I was so grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on our Women’s Leadership Conference Outreach, Advertising, and Alumni Relations Committee. With all the changes this year has brought us, we had to find a way to transition our annual conference to be as engaging and impactful on our virtual platforms. Ever since the conference theme was initially announced, I began to reflect more on how I define the terms “interdisciplinary” and “allyship” and what these terms mean to me in my everyday life. During the conference committee meetings, I engaged with fellow Belles who had their unique definitions and perspectives of these terms which motivated me to think more deeply on how I identify with these terms. I realized that to me interdisciplinary education is much more than seeking out new information about different ideas and topics. Rather, intersectionality is the overlap of different cultures, races, socioeconomic status, backgrounds, identities, etc. (the list goes on) a...

Everyone can relate to the feeling of being overwhelmed with work. Of course, there are many joys associated with school and work. Attending UCLA is such a blessing- I am able to study topics that interest me and learn about the world around me amongst some of the most inspiring people I have ever met! However, I believe that it is incredibly important that every person ensures that they find joy, fulfillment, and purpose outside of their schooling and career. Academic and career-related growth is very rewarding, but so is personal and emotional growth. Therefore, it is critical that we spend time discovering our passions and joys outside of the classroom and workplace to live a well-rounded, balanced life and avoid burn-out. Bruin Belles has certainly motivated me to lead a more balanced life. Whenever I attend Bruin Belles events, I often find myself in a conversation with a fellow Belle about what we have been up to lately. I can't even explain how many ...