As the class of 2020 says farewell to UCLA, they look back and think about their four years as a Bruin: the good, the bad, the spectacular and the not-too-great moments. Through their four years as Bruins, each individual graduate has carved a unique path for their future selves. Yes, there were hurdles, but there were also extraordinary accomplishments that came when bruins surpassed obstacles. I reached out to four astounding seniors and asked them to share some words of wisdom for us younger Bruins, and their words are definitely worth reading:
- Marissa Stinnett
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Major: English, pre-med
“My biggest advice to undergrad Bruins is to cherish UCLA as much as possible. This could mean planning a random picnic, involving yourself in as many extracurricular activities as you possibly can, taking the long way to class so you can soak up the beauty of campus, going to office hours to connect with the professor or TA even if it may be intimidating, saying yes more times than you say no… The list could go on and on. The most important thing to remember is that you will never be surrounded by more intelligent, kind, driven, interesting, passionate and amazing individuals than you are right now, so reach out to those around you and let your fellow Bruins change your life as much, as you’ve most definitely impacted theirs.”
- Brianna Wummer
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Major: Physiological Science, pre-med
“My number one piece of advice is to remember to live your life! School is so important, but I spent my first two years at UCLA only studying or focusing on the future, and I completely forgot to live in the present. STEM classes are no joke, and going through all of the stress alone made it even worse. College is such a fun time- make sure to actually enjoy it! Also, definitely study with friends! It’s a much more fun way to study, and talking through the tough concepts with others makes it way more manageable. And, it helps remind you that everyone is struggling just as much as you are!”
- Kaitlyn Peterson
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Major: English and Communications
“After four years at my dream school, I know the importance of investing as much as you can into everything that UCLA has to offer. So, if you join a club or an extracurricular activity, be all in. If you find a community of fellow Bruins, be fully authentic and yourself. If you find a new academic passion, study with full effort and enthusiasm. This university sees the strength and potential in all of its students, and only through full investment in its opportunities can we see this strength and potential too.”
- Shayna Freedman
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Major: English
“Go to office hours! Also, don’t get caught up stressing over work all the time. Sometimes the best thing to do is to take a break and come back to it. The best way to do well is to keep up your mental health. Also, don’t be afraid to get out of your comfort zone, even if it doesn’t work out. College is all about trying new things, and that means failing a lot of the time.”
For all younger Bruins, remember to study hard, but also make time to truly relish in your college experience. Make time for fun, for connecting with others and leaving your comfort zone. We only get to go to UCLA for our undergraduate years once, so let’s make the most of it.