UCLA

Coming from a small town in China, Diane Zhao never thought that she would eventually become a student at one of the most prestigious public universities in the United States. Upon beginning her studies at UCLA, Zhao had to learn English, a “seemingly impossible task,” in addition to facing the same challenges other students do in getting adjusted to the college experience.

“I entered UCLA with countless worries and hopes for the next four years ahead. Even as someone who moved around different continents growing up, a new school with numerous uncertainties was still intimidating. I didn’t know what friendships I’d experience, knowledge I’d gain, memories I’d make,” Zhao recalled. 

However, impressed by the campus and the university as an institution, Zhao was ready to clear such barriers, describing her initial perception of UCLA as being “new and exciting; the possibilities seemed endless,” and was thrilled at the prospect of being taught by “renowned professors and incredible research opportunities.”

Zhao’s choice of a career, specifically focusing on cancer research, was deeply personal. In her sophomore year, Zhao’s grandfather, whom she describes as “the closest thing I had to a father,” got diagnosed with stage-four pancreatic cancer, in addition to “heartbreaking battles with the condition” other family members had experienced. She then began pursuing her interest by joining the Asian Pacific Health Corps (APHC), feeling that her experience in foreign languages and dealing with other cultures made her suitable for the organization. Zhao’s efforts and passion were quickly noticed by the APHC, and she soon became the only freshman in the organization to assume a position as a director, one she would keep for the next three years. Throughout her time on campus, Zhao would continue her participation in on-campus organizations, taking leadership roles in Collaboration in Undergraduate Enrichment and the International Circle of Genetics Studies. Zhao credits her time in these organizations as leading her “to become stronger and more determined in my efforts to achieve my goals.” Throughout her time at UCLA, Zhao additionally maintained a formidable academic record, earning a GPA of 3.944.

Despite her successes on campus, such efforts were not without difficulties. “During my freshman year, I got rejected from countless clubs and felt myself lose hope of accessing the resources that I craved but didn’t have in high school,” Zhao recalls, and additionally cites how annual family visits to China and Zimbabwe prevented her from taking important research opportunities. “Through all the rejections I received, there were definitely times when I felt like I did not belong here at the number one public university in the U.S.,” she said. 

Zhao’s academic and career progress were further threatened with the tragedy of a close friend’s suicide attempt in winter quarter of her senior year, requiring her to spend over a month caring for her friend in the hospital. However, this personal tragedy only further confirmed the importance of her work, not only in scientific research, but in caring for patients directly. “I prepared meals for her, contacted her professors, and visited her for hours everyday while completing all my club and work responsibilities. I did not have a cure for her mental illness, but I could provide her compassion and care to help heal the wounds on her heart,” adding that the experience gave her a “newfound confidence and strength within that helped me make important decisions and say the right words.” These monumental responsibilities were not to deter Zhou’s success; by the end of winter quarter, she had received a 4.0 GPA with a twenty-unit course load.

For newer Bruins, Zhao offers some key advice on succeeding as a student. “Wherever you are heading in the next four years, do not forget the True Bruin values of integrity, excellence, accountability, respect, and service. As a first generation immigrant, it took more than hard work for me to get to where I am today—it also took luck. I hope that every one of you, no matter what background you came from, can give back to underserved communities as much as possible, for not everyone had the luck that you had to get this far.  I experienced professional failure, personal loss, and more pain than I could bear at times. However, UCLA not only helped me mature as a person, but it also provided me with a group of peers and mentors who held up the sky for me when I needed support. You are worthy of being a Bruin. You are here because you deserve it, and no matter what challenges are ahead of you, do not forget who you are.” 

As a graduating senior, Arsal Zaheer recommends three things to incoming Bruins: carve out your own academic path, be selfish with your time, and enjoy the little moments!

Arsal made full use of the broad range of classes UCLA has to offer, allowing him to follow his own academic path.

He was able to attain a degree in economics, while still being to take classes on his other interests in the side. With a passion for public healthcare, Arsal completed the pre-med curriculum and took public health coursework on the side. 

Arsal encourages students to not shy away from taking classes that interest them, even if they are not a part of their given major. 

“Embrace your curiosities while you have access to this world class institution, it’s well worth it.”

Arsal helped plan the Los Angeles Global Health Conference in 2019, monitoring the registration process for attendees, along with developing pricing schemes that allow for the conference to have a specific revenue outcome. 

Being an extroverted individual, Arsal’s sense of adventure got him to experience the many things that UCLA has to offer. He joined numerous clubs before settling on a few that were most important to him.

“There is so much to get involved with, and you’re doing yourself a disservice if you spend your time in ways that do not stimulate or fulfill you in the best possible way.”

He was a part of the Fellowship for International Service and Health for all four years, while holding a chief administrative role for the final two. The nonprofit organization also known as FISH is focused on sustainable global health service in Mexico. Arsal helped coordinate trips, clinical practices, English learning opportunities, and established relationships with local leaders. 

Arsal also had many roles within UCLA’s Model United Nations program, another opportunity to travel the country and discuss policies and conflicts affecting the world. 

Outside of clubs and schoolwork, Arsal is very thankful for the opportunity that college has given him to grow and develop as a person.

Arsal credits some of his fondest memories at UCLA towards learning how to play the sitar. Through curiosity, he sat in on one of his friend’s sitar courses and found a new passion of his. Having no prior background in music, Arsal fell for the soothing melodies, along with the process of learning and mastering something new. 

Through perseverance, he ended up performing at annual Music of India concerts at the Schoenberg School of Arts at the end of each year. 

When reflecting on his time at UCLA, Arsal recommends to enjoy the little moments. He mentions great memories of living on the hill, visiting Cade 1919, and randomly seeing friends around campus.

“Seemingly mundane parts of your day will become significant once you graduate. Make sure to appreciate them while they last!”

At the age of eighteen, people become legally classified as adults and are given the opportunity to make independent decisions. Just like during freshman year, Nathan Mallipeddi recognized the freedom to choose his own classes. As a freshman, his motivation behind taking classes was to stay with friends, choose the best professors and create a good fit to his pre-med schedule. Although this seems like a simple issue, Mallipeddi learned over time that choosing classes essentially bridges the knowledge you get to keep as the foundation of your future. “Choosing classes may not seem to be that important, but you are essentially picking the knowledge that will be your war chest in future battles,” he said.

He believes that picking classes fundamentally revolves around learning as much as you can and developing lifetime friendships. “Do what you love. Learn what you love,” and as for building friendships, “college is too short to be brought down by the opinions of others,” he said. When it comes to ‘success,’ “even if you don’t reach your goals, you will reach something different, something new, something exciting,” he said.

Mallipeddi’s UCLA career was filled with many memorable life lessons, inspiring accomplishments and insightful professional development which shaped the person he is today. During his time in college, Mallipeddi managed to thrive academically while balancing his time conducting research, running a non-profit organization and managing other projects such as initiating the Virtual Chapter Program of the National Stuttering Association. These experiences shaped his ability to be a sharper thinker and a more collaborative teammate. “Four years ago, I joined an epigenetic research lab where my team and I made a groundbreaking discovery on the role of histones as enzymes,” he said. Along with his team, he was able to present his research in national conferences and published in Science.

As part of the Santos Research group, Mallipeddi investigated the differences in how various research and government entities classify disabilities. The goal was to unite the cross-cultural differences and find a uniform understanding of common disabilities. He proceeded to submit two articles for review in Journal of Disability Policy Studies and Political Psychology as first-author and second author respectively.

Mallipeddi was born with a speech disorder, an example of an invisible disability. With personal experiences living through this condition, he passionately used his voice to support others who are living through similar situations. This condition didn’t discourage and stop him from taking actions and getting involved as it became a foundation towards his passion in serving others. By breaking his silence about his communication impairment, he supports many communities that are undeservingly silenced and voiceless.

He acknowledged his most meaningful college experience as the creation of SoCal Stuttering Service, a non-profit organization made of 30 members with interests in speech therapy. “We’re targeting these students at their most vulnerable, when interpersonal relationships dictate a large portion of their life,” he said. Mallipeddi observed the boundaries and setbacks from accessing and financing professional support to seek developmental speech therapy. “Our goal is to provide the support necessary to ensure a speech disability doesn’t negatively impact their livelihood,” Mallipeddi said.

SoCal Stuttering Service provided remarkable support on their students’ communication skills. The students have proceeded to start scientific awareness movements, public service organizations and small businesses. By partnering with therapists, “we’ve raised $45,000 from service grants and corporate sponsorships. We are on track to hitting ~$100,000 by the end of year, to grow our workshops +50% to directly reach 3,000 students,” he said. The growth and positive feedback have pushed the team to expand internationally with a current focus in India.

UCLA helped Mallipeddi find a comfort zone and safe space in communities that helped him with his speech condition. This made a lasting impact which moved him to serve others. “UCLA provided me with the experiences and knowledge to grow from a shy, stuttering child to an accomplished researcher and entrepreneur,” he said.

Although Mallipeddi has made extensive efforts to support the communities with invisible disabilities, he believes that actions should be taken by a wider reach of policymakers. These invisible conditions are often disregarded,” he said. As part of the Santos Research Group at UCLA, “I worked on building a framework to analyze existing legislation and put forward potential solutions for the inclusion of invisible impairments,” he asserted. All in all, his passion, dedication and motivation to serve the community roots back to his mindset: “I do what I love, with who I love, and I treat others with love,” Mallipeddi says.

Evan Lovell was constantly reminded of the phrase “Champions Made Here,” as he spent many early mornings working the opening lifeguard shift at UCLA’s North Pool and the Spieker Aquatic Center where this slogan was proudly displayed. For Evan, the phrase rings true to his journey and accomplishments at UCLA on a personal level.

His Grandma once referred to him as “zesty and sharp.” For Evan, this was a perfect indication of his “friendly nature that stems from him wanting to make people feel welcome and comfortable around him.” It’s important to him for other people to know that he is as great at being thoughtful, supportive, and a listener as he is extroverted. 

Coming from a rural town, Evan’s exposure to the diverse student body was met with a desire to “learn from [the] wide range of beliefs and opinions” hosted on campus. Evan developed an open mindset to his coursework and his curiosity drove him to explore subjects he never would have encountered before, ranging from political communication and advanced game theory to journalistic censorship and American folklore. He not only approached his studies with sincere eagerness, but he also carried this enthusiasm into “relationships outside the classroom that greatly contributed to [his] individual growth and social refinement.”

“Whether it be advising passionate student government leaders, or consoling a freshman through his third break-up of the quarter, many of my jobs relied upon empathy and interpersonal skills,” said Evan.

Through his work as a resident assistant and a UCLA CUB tour guide, Evan cultivated his interpersonal skills and his ability to effectively problem solve. Evan’s experience with Cub Tours, “an organization that gives weekly campus tours to groups of children from low-income schools,” was so rewarding that he began “helping with the recruitment of future Cub Tour Guides and successfully brought in several new members.” However, as the President of UCLA’s Pre Law Fraternity and the director for the Mock Trial, Evan’s “patience and capacity for conflict management was constantly tested but considerably bolstered,” largely due to his role in “deescalating tense debates between fiery pre-law students.” 

The level “empathy” that Evan developed from his experiences on campus were carried forward into his workplace. During his internship at the Supreme Court and his employment at the Sacramento DA’s Office, Evan was further “inspired by the passion, empathy, and tact displayed by the attorneys.” At the Supreme Court, Evan “had the opportunity to attend the historical case regarding LGBT discrimination in the workforce” and was able to witness “the prioritization of human connection and support” that further drew him into the field of Law.

Based on his experiences and time at UCLA, Evan has come to believe that individuals are often most successful when they choose a position that utilizes their strengths and interests. This philosophy has provided him with the clarity of being sure that he’s on the right path to pursue his passion for helping others. Acts of passion and empathy not only appeal to him, but have inspired Evan to engage in it.

Although he is not certain what the future holds for him post law school, Evan will focus for now on attending Berkeley Law where he hopes to continue to champion his “dedication to service and passion for working to support others.” As the 2020 Recipient of the Chancellor’s Service Award, Evan’s vision seems natural and well within reach. 

At the end of his undergraduate degree, Evan exclaimed that “time flies when you’re having fun,” and it sure was an “untraditional ending to virtually the greatest of all time.”

While some students struggle to make it to their 8AM classes from their dorms, Annie Kokoyan undergoes a greater adventure as part of her UCLA morning routine. “I  was a commuter student during the day and a caretaker to my grandmother at night,” she explained. Although commuting became the wiser financial decision, this did not stop Kokoyan from putting her full effort in fulfilling both her academic and family duties.

Kokoyan took care of her grandmother by nurturing her physical and mental health which were damaged after being diagnosed with breast cancer. She utilized creative outlets such as poetry which became a shining light throughout her grandmother’s dark times. “I’d bring her some paper and pens, so we could write poems together. The poems would be in different languages, such as Armenian, Russian, and English,” she said.

Kokoyan learned the importance and satisfaction behind sacrifices as she watched her grandma’s health improve. “Even though this meant I couldn’t get to start my homework until midnight most nights, I didn’t mind, because I knew the sacrifices, I made for my family were worth it,” she said. She remains strong and as her mindset roots to her gratefulness in the opportunity of attending the best public university in the country. This motivated her to stay committed in managing and balancing her role as a student and the backbone of her family. “Through my experience with my grandma, I learned the true value of time, and I, like my grandma, choose to never waste it,” she said.

Growing up, UCLA had always been her dream school and she even remembers getting a UCLA blanket as a kid. Her pride remains strong as her four-year college experiences molded her character to resemble the values of a true Bruin: integrity, excellence, accountability, respect, and service. “I have become a driven and optimistic individual who works every day to be compassionate to others and open-minded to new ideas,” Kokoyan said.

Her warm-heartedness and passion in caring for others did not stop in her family but also flourished within other communities. Kokoyan dedicated her time as a co-director of Project Health Fair in the Medical Experience through Service in Healthcare (MESH). She led her team in educating and providing health resources such as performing hypertension and BMI screenings for underserved communities in the Los Angeles area. Kokoyan ensured that her committee members value the experience as an eye-opening experience about the low-income communities and their healthcare needs.

Her UCLA experiences have flourished the service mentality that her mother taught her since she was a child. These experiences become meaningful experiences for Kokoyan as a student pursuing a career in medicine. “I was able to develop the skills necessary to interact with patients of different cultures, socioeconomic statuses and I know this is very important in preparing me for my future health profession”, she said.  Hence, her good intentions in serving the community has strengthened her professional development and strong relationships with “close and strong relationships with like-minded individuals who had the same goals as me. And that is worth everything to me,” she added.

Kokoyan’s journey in deciding her major in psychology came with external doubts from relatives, friends and even strangers convincing her that she was taking an “easy” route to medical school. “I soon realized that it didn’t matter what anyone else thought because I am proud of being a Psychology major,” she said. Kokoyan had a strong principle and remained devoted to what her heart desired. This route gave her the opportunity to continuously grow and learn new skills to apply in her daily life and in her future medicine career.

In the long-term, Kokoyan aspires to become a plastic surgeon. Although plastic surgery is often perceived with a negative stigma, she responds with, “I hope to be part of dismantling that negative connotation by helping those in need of these procedures,” she explained. She is prepared to invest her time, effort and skills learned through her major in helping people in a psychologically healthy way through this occupation. “In Dr. Chorpita’s Psychology course, I learned that only 7% of psychology undergraduates pursue mental health in the future. I know that I do not want to be part of the 93% especially because I have a strong passion for mental health,” Kokoyan said.