In 1861, a bearded man named Galen Clark stood at the base of a giant sequoia tree in the Mariposa Grove and had his photograph taken by Carleton Watkins, a landscape photographer.

Spending 27 months in a developing country, oftentimes living in dismal conditions without electricity or running water is quite a big commitment.

After finishing her undergraduate degree, Megan Kelly wasn’t entirely sure what she wanted to do with her life, but she did know one thing for certain ““ she wanted to help people.

When UCLA alumnus Phu Tranchi first found out his Peace Corps assignment, he wasn’t even sure where the country was located.
“When I first received my package that said I was going to Kenya, the first thing I had to do was pull out an atlas to figure out where the heck Kenya was,” Tranchi said.

Fourth-year anthropology student Stephen Bingcang is no stranger to traveling abroad.

It’s easy to get a taste of Mexican culture by simply walking down Olvera Street, and Italian culture is equally accessible, with UCLA’s very own Café 1919 serving everything from gelato to pizzas and paninis. But it’s a little more difficult to get a sampling of German culture, even in Los Angeles, one of the most ethnically diverse cities in the country.

Claire Le Maitre, a Second-year biochemistry student, wears Mackey’s renovated sunglasses

For 18 years, I resisted wearing sunglasses. No matter how bright it was outside or how little I could see while driving, I just could never get myself to wear them. It wasn’t that I had anything against sunglasses per se, I simply could never find a pair that was flattering. And after countless trips to Nordstrom Rack and Forever 21, I began to grow self-conscious about even trying sunglasses on because I honestly felt like nothing would look good on me anyway. I watched in agony as my friends went through pair after pair of cute new glasses, ultimately accepting the fact that I, unlike them, lacked the correct facial structure to support, well, any sunglass style. So after 18 years, I had pretty much given up on ever finding a perfect pair of cool, comfortable sunglasses.

Throughout my food-loving life, I have tried dozens of Subway foot-longs and frequently endured my dad’s huge Spanglish-style sandwiches.

Fourth-year anthropology and linguistics student Matt Pawlik enjoys wearing bright colors to make his outfits stand out.

As I’ve grown older and moved on from GapKids to the preteen sections of Old Navy to my current frequenting of Nordstrom and H&M, I’ve noticed a growing trend, and it’s not a good one. With age and perhaps a broader selection of clothes come increased costs. So what’s a girl to do after growing tired of wearing that same old black cardigan or those beat-up Converse All Stars? Especially without a job and with all those college expenses? As long as you’re a little creative, I’ve discovered, you don’t need to have access to a trust fund or Daddy’s wallet to make your outfit pop.

Denim never gets old. And considering that it’s basically always summer in Los Angeles, every California girl needs a pair of cute, jean shorts. Plus, Katy Perry is singing about it, so I guess that means we have to live up to our name.

Homemade bleached jeans are a perfect way to get that unique summer look without having to spend much, or any, money. And, better yet, they’re extremely versatile- pair them with a tank top and flip-flops for a casual look, or dress them up with a blazer or leather jacket and flats or boots. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to get your perfect summer shorts: