Graduation is not merely a moment of celebration and achievement; it is also a time for reflection. As Bruins reach the end of their educational journey, they have an opportunity to pause and look back on the path they have traveled, the lessons they have learned and the growth they have experienced. Read on as some of BruinLife’s seniors reflect on their UCLA journey.
Alin Asadooran
Alin Asadooran was part of the BruinLife Marketing team for 2 years. Photo by J. Hernandez/BruinLife
Major: English
Potential post-grad plans: Finding my dream job
Instagram: @alinasadooran
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alin-asadooran-hajiabadi/
What is one piece of advice you wish you knew when you first came to UCLA?
I knew UCLA was huge and there was always so much going on but I wasn’t aware of just how much there was to take advantage of. There are organizations and events happening all the time for exactly what you are looking for. Seek them out and make the most of your time at UCLA! You’ll get the experience you are looking for and make great friends along the way.
What is your favorite memory from UCLA?
I simply cannot choose. Every experience at UCLA has made me who I am and has taught me what I want and don’t want for my future. I am grateful for all of it.
What was your favorite part of BruinLife?
My favorite part of BruinLife is between getting to write for the UCLA community on topics relevant to daily Bruin life or our weekly meetings where we discuss our assignments, social media plans, outreach and all the exciting plans for the future of BruinLife.
What was your favorite memory from BruinLife?
My favorite memory from BruinLife was the beach bonfire social in my junior year where I got to know my fellow BruinLife team members a little bit better. I’ll never forget how terribly cold and windy that day was but most importantly, I got to meet a couple of great friends from other BruinLife sections which made it all worth it.
Why did you join BruinLife and what have you learned from BruinLife?
I joined BruinLife because I wanted to get logistical experience in marketing and media from a creative and student-run club. I am grateful for the AP Style writing guidance and marketing mindset that my amazing Marketing Editors coordinated and mentored me with! I am confident that my experience in BruinLife will help me in my career beyond university.
Amanda Chhouk
Amanda Chhouk was part of the BruinLife Marketing team for four years. Photo by J. Hernandez/BruinLife
Major: Sociology with minors in Asian American Studies and Film, TV and Digital Media Studies
Potential post-grad plans: Learn to drive, travel and explore internships/ jobs (some fields of interest are marketing, education and community work)
LinkedIn: www.linkedin.com/in/amandachhouk
What is one piece of advice you wish you knew when you first came to UCLA?One piece of advice that I wish I knew when coming to UCLA is that I should try to explore and take advantage of any and all opportunities. Despite the pandemic, I wish that I was more proactive in building strong networks and exploring my passions or interests, despite any insecurity I might have, especially imposter syndrome.
What is your favorite memory from UCLA?
My favorite memory from UCLA is seeing Rico Nasty for the first time at Bruin Bash. She is such a fun artist to watch and I saw her for free!
What was your favorite part of BruinLife?
My favorite part of BruinLife is probably when we had marketing section meetings because, as an editor, I tried to implement community-building questions in our meetings in order to bond more and they were always a fun icebreaker before discussing business. Despite having a small marketing team, it was really rewarding to get to know the interns and assistant marketing editors on a level that is deeper than just coworkers. I loved how I built friendships that will go beyond college graduation!
What was your favorite memory from BruinLife?
My favorite memory from BruinLife is taking a trip to Minnesota with other UCLA student media groups to attend the annual ACP Mega College Media Workshops. Not only did I learn so much more about the journalism industry, but I also had the opportunity to expand my network to other student media groups from colleges all over the nation. Through this event, I bonded closer with my own staff, visited places that I have never been to before, and ate some bomb food! And the whole trip was free!
Why did you join BruinLife and what have you learned from BruinLife?
I joined BruinLife to have a space and a role that allowed me to explore my interests surrounding marketing, digital media, and outreach. That being said, I loved how being in BruinLife also challenged me and my capabilities but towards a direction of growth, such as learning and practicing my creativity, problem-solving and team-building skills in my work. One huge takeaway I had from my experience in BruinLife is to not be afraid to be yourself, advocate for yourself and take risks! You never know if something will work and be successful unless you try!
Maddie Markay
Maddie Markay was part of the BruinLife Marketing team for two years. Photo by J. Hernandez/BruinLife
Major: Communication
Potential post-grad plans: Working at a marketing agency
Linktree: https://linktr.ee/maddiemarkay
What is one piece of advice you wish you knew when you first came to UCLA?
Some advice I would give to myself when I first came to UCLA is to take advantage of the countless resources on campus. These resources include free products, free food and so many free events that UCLA hosts. There are so many resources and it may take time to go out of your way to access these, but it is definitely worth it.
What is your favorite memory from UCLA?
My favorite memory is meeting my best friends and eating at the dining halls/food trucks with them. I think that the small things like going to eat or just hanging out in each other’s dorms are things that I look back on now and cherish.
What was your favorite part of BruinLife?
My favorite part of BruinLife was getting promoted to editor after being an intern for over a year. This was my favorite part because I was able to get to meet the other editors from other sections and also be able to help with the restructuring of my section/BruinLife as a whole.
What was your favorite memory from BruinLife?
My favorite memory from BruinLife was this year’s all-day staff training at the beginning of the year. I liked this event because I was able to meet people from other staff sections during the icebreakers. I also liked the staff training because the Thai food was really good.
Why did you join BruinLife and what have you learned from BruinLife?
I joined BruinLife as a marketing intern because I was involved in my student yearbook in high school. I was a yearbook editor in high school and gained lots of experience with publishing as well as leadership. Going into BruinLife, I was looking to make friends while also working to gain experience in the marketing field which is what I want to pursue after I graduate. I learned a lot from BruinLife including how to deal with unexpected obstacles and how to work as a team to overcome these obstacles. I also learned how to write articles and participate in both internal/external marketing.
