The young woman ran for her life through the halls of Covel Commons. Familiar Mediterranean scents wafted up from Epicuria at Covel below, as the Creature stalked its next target.

Everyone has a story of self-discovery. Explore the stories of Bruins’ awakenings, from the people behind UCLA’s dining halls to the journey of a formerly incarcerated student, in PRIME’s latest issue – online here and on newsstands now.

This post was updated Sept. 29 at 6:05 p.m.
Jaymie Park had not considered her United States citizenship status until she applied for college financial aid. 
It was 2011, and Park quickly realized she had few options for financing her education as an undocumented student.

Just a half an hour drive from UCLA’s campus lies the Hollywood Walk of Fame and its more than 2,500 stars. From TV personalities such as Food Network’s Guy Fieri to legends of the silver screen such as Marilyn Monroe, many of the most talked-about names from a variety of industries find themselves engraved on Hollywood Blvd.

120,000 incarcerees. 10 camps. Three generations. Countless untold stories of Japanese Americans whose families – and education – were profoundly shaped by Executive Order 9066 at UCLA and beyond.

Amy Akiba felt stuck. 
Now an alumnus, Akiba entered UCLA in 2020 with a declared major in linguistics and psychology. However, she struggled in her classes and immediately knew it wasn’t the right major for her.

Monji Batmunkh dripped with sweat as he walked around UCLA’s campus – but he wasn’t just another student frantically sprinting to class. Batmunkh was cloaked in a hooded black trench coat and wearing a full face mask.