Gallery: The world in Westwood
By Dayoung Lee
June 11, 2017 12:00 p.m.
Mike Muyuan Xing, a fourth-year economics stu- dent from Switzerland spent his first three years studying to maintain his grades, with little flexibility in his schedule. In his third year, Xing became a residential assistant in Hedrick Hall where he had the opportunity to supervise more than 70 first-year students. One night, he walked into the bathroom in his hall and passed out. He reached for his phone to call another RA who then called 911. Xing recalls worrying first about his grades and not his health. This wake-up call removed him from the toxic situation he was in. Xing then began exercising, eating healthier, reforging friendships and doing better in school.
(Dayoung Lee/Daily Bruin)
Soheil Kashani, a fourth-year civil engineering student from northeastern Iran came to UCLA with only one other person from his high school. In his first year, he wasn’t the most studious nor involved and, in fact, doesn’t remember much of what he did his first year. One thing he does recall are the nicknames he went by for those who did not know how to pronounce ''Soheil.'' In his second year, a friend of his encouraged Kashani to rush a fraternity together. Though Greek life was not something Kashani saw himself being a part of, he said that he felt he belonged when he came back the second day and all the brothers had remembered his name.
(Dayoung Lee/Daily Bruin)
Frederick Kennedy, a fourth-year computer science student from Indonesia transferred to UCLA from his community college because he said it promised a good balance between academics and entertainment. Though he came to UCLA with several other Indonesian students from the same community college, he felt that he needed to step out of his comfort zone and join other organizations. Kennedy spoke with members of Theta Tau, an engineering fraternity, at an activity fair where they convinced him to rush. Kennedy immediately involved himself in the fraternity but realized winter of 2017 that he needed to better balance fraternity events and academics. ''My entire life, I’ve emphasized finding the perfect balance between life and work,'' he said.
(Dayoung Lee/Daily Bruin)
Roseanna Cen, a third-year psychology student is an only child from New Zealand who entered UCLA feeling excited and hoping to lead an independent life. All she’d known about California came from movies and Hollywood allure. Cen did not find her true niche until her third year, when she became a residential assistant for Hedrick Hall. She found individuals who were very unique but respected her interests and shared similar values as she did. She hoped her position could help incoming first-year students find their sense of belonging at UCLA as well.
(Dayoung Lee/Daily Bruin)
Sulagna Hati, a third-year microbiology, immunology and molecular genetics student from India believed that she would pursue an English degree, but once she got to UCLA, she realized that her love for biology overpowered that dream. But her lack of knowledge stifled her from immediately switching from an English major to a STEM major. Hati visited her counselor, who gave her the resources to pursue her newfound passion. Her parents supported her decision, despite the doubts that she had. Once she declared her major, Hati involved herself in research and shadowed at a local hospital in order to expand her knowledge and experiences.
(Dayoung Lee/Daily Bruin)
Jack Guo, a fourth-year computational and systems biology student came to UCLA from the Hunan region in China. He focused on academics in his first year, but in his second year, Guo contacted Undergraduate Students Association Council’s then-internal vice president who connected him with Bruins United, which he went on to use as a platform to promote international student voices. Guo became director of USAC’s Committee of International Relations in his fourth year. ''I feel like I’m doing what I want to do and what I really enjoy,'' Guo said.
(Dayoung Lee/Daily Bruin)
