At first glance you would not suspect that Michelle Dilley is someone who reads neuroscience books for fun. While I interview her, this bubbly junior is getting her costumes ready for Dance Marathon, for which she is a Dancer Captain. This fundraiser is the largest in the West Coast and attracts hundreds of dancers every year who unite to help buy medicine that prevents HIV/AIDS from being transmitted from mother to child. The event consists of 26 hours of dancing, which is a fitting event for a girl who is known for her silly dance moves and motivating optimism and we sat down to learn more about how she does it all.
HerCampus: How did you become involved in Dance Marathon and what other activities do you do at UCLA?
Michelle Dilley: I danced my freshman year at UCLA and I fell in love with all of the kids I met and their stories really touched me. I wanted to have a bigger role in the event and I was part of the Moraler Relations committee last year and am a Dancer Captain this year! I am also the Gamma Phi Beta Scholarship Chair, AMSA’s Domestic Violence Project Chair, a biomedical research assistant and a coordinator at the Brain Wellness Center.
HC: Sounds like you don’t have a lot of free time! What do you do when you do get some time off?
MD: I like to bodysurf, watch So You Think You Can Dance reruns and make and eat pies.
HC: It sounds like you are interested in a lot of different things! What do you want to pursue after UCLA?
MD: I would love to go to medical school and am interested in neurology but I am excited to learn more about the different types of medicine. I know from working at the Brain Wellness Center that I like interacting with patients a lot!
HC: Do you have any advice for HerCampus readers that are struggling to balance school and extracurriculars and still manage to have fun?
MD: I am more productive when I have a busy schedule. It’s easy for me to lose track of time when I have nothing to do so keeping busy and motivated makes it easier for me to focus and not feel guilty when I want to go have some fun. Also, I am doing things that I love so it doesn’t feel like work all the time.
HC: With so much Dance Marathon experience you must have some awesome dance moves! Care to share any of your tips?
MD: I give out free pointers at Dance Marathon so make sure to come next year!
This article is written by a student writer from the Her Campus at UCLA chapter.