HaU BLOG Posts
Remember to live authentically.
What is authenticity? Differs between you and I Is it when I “do my hair like I just don’t care”? Or perhaps when I “live life on edge”? It’s overused and antiquated, you say? To what timeframe and degree do you restrict authenticity? Our world is tethered by the mass media Is there plagiarism detection software, in this undeniably digitized world? Where is the Turnitin code to submit My Authenticity.docx? 99% similarity report Rewording and rephrasing, is it still all the same to you? My brain is littered with pre-rehearsed knowledge disseminated by you So, call into question authenticity Preach it, but take it down when it’s found Promote it, but hide it when it isn’t quite what you were looking for When it’s too similar to the mold or far from it No in between, but stay within the lines Think outside the box, but make sure to crawl right back when you say so “Live life authentically.” Or is it just a phrase on an eye-catching backdrop? A file you’ll send across the web Clicks, retweets, shared link, liked, viewed, screenshotted It never happened if you didn’t see it and it does not stop until you deem it The world is under your control, spin it to your desire, and watch us whirl Rewired to your liking, it never ceases to stop We are typing away the story of our lives, but you dictate every syllable of it I fix the passage, but the edits never seem to satisfy you But we yearn for it, we crave it Knowing well your hard drive has no code for acceptance At least not yet, but when? We wish for a better tomorrow, but understandably too afraid to seek it “Tomorrow is a new day,” or so they say Probably too reused for you as well.
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It is an incredible feeling when you have it all together. Society has created this image of an “it girl” that has a perfect schedule, a productive day, and an effortless life. Since the beginning of college I have chased being that “it girl.” I have had 75% failure, and 15% success. However that 15% gave me strength and confidence to keep pursuing my version of “it girl”. Every attempt has rewarded me with the feeling of accomplishment. I have created my weekly schedule, I have a to-do-lists, and being able to satisfy everything on my lists and schedules keeps me motivated throughout the quarter. It has been difficult to stay consistent at home, but I look forward to starting again on campus when COVID-19 cases decrease. Adapting this lifestyle has given me a sense of direction, and keeps me organized. My typical schedule would be to attend class in the mornings, work midday, gym in the afternoon, and homework time after dinner. At first I was chasing the image of this lifestyle, but now that I have created my own version I truly just needed the practice to create something personal. This lifestyle brought me a sense of self. It is easy to fall behind in school, it is easy to lose motivation, and lose track of success. The routine I have created has set me up for success, and prepared me every week. Moving forward I want to continue this routine, and learn more about myself to be able to create more systems to improve my daily life. I plan to explore different study methods next to find the best version of studying for myself.
Although there is still a lot of uncertainty as to what is going on in the world, I remain hopeful for myself and others. A lot of pain and suffering that I experienced in the past two years was because of a number of things including the global pandemic, extremely stressful home situation, and depression. I really was so exhausted and hurt because of how much I wanted things to be different, how much I wanted to have peace. I carried the burden of wanting everything to be okay and having no power to do anything about my situation. However, I was wrong. I eventually did do something and I was able to start receiving treatment from CAPS. My therapist is one of the best people I’ve ever met. She was so understanding and helped me take small steps towards becoming happier. It took months and months of work for me to get out of my depression, and sometimes I still struggle to this day, but I have learned so much throughout the past two years. I have learned that when it feels the hardest, pushing myself to even just drinking some water or brushing my hair makes the biggest difference. I have learned that living in the moment and becoming more mindful has made me less stressed and has allowed me to enjoy and appreciate all the good I have in the present. I have learned that there are people who care about me, and that most importantly I have to care about myself. Self-care and self-love are some of the best ways I was able to advance and move onto better things. Realizing that I am alive in this moment and I can do something about my life right now, altered the way I see life forever. If you’re stuck in a place where you’re unsure what to do– do what makes you happy. You are living right now in this moment, why not enjoy it and make the best of what you can and love yourself and have fun, because you deserve that happiness now.
My brain paints me a picture of peace
But my foolish heart seeks adventure I am meddling with reality and fiction But I don’t mind this contradiction I prefer to be neither here nor there In fact, I much rather be nowhere With nowhere to go, I can simply be I can laugh at sunrise or cry during sunset There isn’t a need to be anything but me And "that’s beautiful", my mother once said In this cruel world, I will rather be lost I don’t want to discover all its ugly truths Because they all come with a cost There are times when the world is silent Too silent that it shakes me to my very core For silence conceals the truth and stifles cries It won’t be too soon before we have another war A war started by those spreading the lies Earth can keep my body, but not my soul For it will escape and leave to explore Explore areas where I'm not in anyone's control I will live life as I want to in my own way And travel places left and right, up and down In the hyperactive city of LA, I am a stray But that is ok because one day I’ll be found My journey at UCLA has been anything, but smooth sailing. I remember the day I received my acceptance letter I was in complete and utter shock because I was the last person to think I would get accepted especially in a STEM major that had me shook to the core lmao. The center picture was taken the first day I ever stepped foot on this campus at Bruin Day 2019. I was in awe of the campus, the atmosphere, the possibilities seemed endless. The picture of me holding that sign was my first day of classes here and I want to tear up looking at this picture because I was so naive, excited, hopeful for the years to come. My first two years feel almost like a blur. I have been tested time and time again if I am good enough to continue here, if I am smart enough, talented enough, social enough, etc! My first year was hard because I was so focused on sticking to the books that I didn't allow myself the time to explore my interests and really find who I was besides the straight "A" student in high school. I questioned my place because I never really had the support at UCLA I knew all my support was back home and that was the only place I really felt safe. It was hard making friends because the only people I talked to were people in my classes and I never saw them in the subsequent quarters. I stopped working out because I told myself I wouldn't have enough time and I was just a ball of self-doubt. Then the pandemic hit Spring 2019 of my freshman year and we were sent home away from campus and honestly I felt happy about it because I felt I didn't have close friends back at school anyways so I could go home to a place with familiar faces: my home <3. However imposter syndrome hit me the hardest Winter 2020 of my sophomore year to the point where I felt I just didn't belong at UCLA. I felt just utterly disconnected with campus (being completely online) and the fact that when I went back I really had nothing to look forward to just stress, rent, bills, and responsibility. I was dealing with anxiety, imposter syndrome, and fear of failure it was everything you could imagine. I withdrew that quarter and really looked into other options, but that quarter tested me and taught me I am more than just a grade, I have values greater than school, I don't have to be a hardcore stem genius to make my family proud because it wasn't making ME happy, and I have amazing opportunities to connect/make friends/grow my network and learn to enjoy the little things! Spring 2021 changed everything for me. I learned how to be kinder to myself and listen to my mind and body and take breaks when I needed :') I found Hermanas and allowed myself to be apart of a space where other people like me were doing the damn thing and doing a damn good job! I finally felt like I had value in the crazy institution that accepted me. I landed my dream job with UCLA Athletics and things were just looking up! Fast forward to Fall 2021 which was one of the absolute best quarters I have ever had at UCLA. I finally felt happy! I was lucky to have the most amazing roommates who understood and accepted me. They became real friends who I could lean on and confide in. I was able to experience Hermanas in person and bond with the amazing ladies that surround and support me everyday <3 I am inspired by all your valuable experiences and I hope you all can come to me for anything as well! I was able to take a break from classes to work out, relax, do things for me, which I had never done before! I was able to have my amazing family, best friends, and boyfriend by my side every step of the way to support me! I started my dream job as a sports marketing intern with UCLA Athletics. It just finally felt full circle! I felt so complete and grateful for the opportunities, friendships, and most importantly lessons that I have learned throughout my three years here. Even though I continue to question myself everyday I am smiling reflecting on the journey I have been able to overcome thus far. I hope that that drive can continue to motivate and that I use it as a way to remind myself how much I have blossomed and grown at this campus. Looking at my picture from Bruin Day in April 2019 it helps me realize all the hardships, yet beautiful experiences UCLA has given me and I hope to seek the better from this moment forward even when it gets extremely hard. Todas son mujeres poderosas and I hope you all remind yourselves of this everyday! <3
My most memorable experience this quarter was our GB retreat. It was my first time going to a GB retreat and WOW it was amazing and unforgettable. From getting to know more GB members to helping out with activities, to staying up with Bianca to write recuerdos (being the last ones awake), every single minute spent at GB retreat was completely worth it! I loved bonding with other Hermanas y Hermanxs and seeing both our vulnerability and competitiveness in action. I truly needed this retreat and I cannot put into words how much I am grateful for having attended. I have to say any moment that I spend surrounded by HaU members I feel happy! The college I made does little to recognize the amazing work that our co-chairs Jo and Brenda put in to making this event possible. However, I want to give huge props to them for making it happen <3 So grateful to be surrounded by amazing, poderosxs, inspirational, and beautiful people!! <3 HaU has my heart foreverrrr
Love, Leslie I have to admit that this quarter has been one of the most stressful quarters at UCLA yet. However, I have found different ways to cope with stress and anxiety and I hope that these things can help y'all too. During the pandemic, I really got into going for walks when I needed to destress a little. I have also really enjoyed studying and de-stressing in nature. I can't tell y'all the countless times that I drove to Whittier Narrows, a recreational area, to study for my midterms and finals during the pandemic. Additionally, I also got into cooking over the pandemic. I found out that cooking some of my favorite foods, such as aguachiles can be really relaxing. Especially because I get to eat good afterwards. Another thing that I enjoy to do when I want to wind down is bake. I love baking ricotta cheesecake, cupcakes, flan, etc. Plus being able to enjoy them is a huge win! I also love some retail-therapy. I love to go to Target or do some online shopping as a means of distraction, while also treating myself at the same time. Lastly, when I am really stressed and just need a breather I like to go visit my niece, Lanei. Being around her and her young energy really grounds me and makes me see things in a different perspective. So my recommendation would be to do things y'all enjoy doing, such as baking, cooking, being around loved ones, and treating y'allselfs!
Hi Hermanas! My name is Yasmin and I’m currently a first year student majoring in Business Economics. I’m from the Bay Area and so far, LA has been a fun environment to live in. In such little time, I’ve met a high number of wonderful people. It connects to one of my main goals, social networking. Social networking leads me to meeting even more new people and having access to many opportunities. It’s one of the main reasons why I decided to join Hermanas Unidas. Besides that, I joined to find my group of people. I wanted to be surrounded by a supportive group of Latina women who wish you nothing but the best! Being a Hermana to me means to be a part of an understanding community where you can give back and also receive support and different resources to guide you. I can’t wait to meet and get to know you guys very soon! <3
Holisss babes! My name is Alma Ortega, I'm a first year human biology and society major! I live in Sproul Hall, I'm an Aries, and I'm a first generation Mexican-American. In middle school I was introduced to this book by one of my latino teachers who understood that for us Latinas, life can get pretty rough. The book "The House on Mango Street" by Sandra Cisneros is about an adolescent/ young adult Latina named Esperanza who discusses her life in short vignettes. She goes through the motions of life and some hardships she encounters as a minority in the United States, which makes her such a relatable character to us. "The House on Mango Street" brings up a lot of social inequalities, gender norms, as well as encounters with s*xual assault/ harassment; something most authors might not typically bring up. Thanks to this book, I've become more aware of myself as a Latina, as well as others in the Latinx community that face similar problems. I highly recommend y'all read it, it's really short and super interesting. By far, one of the most relatable novels I've yet to read. Till next time hermanas <3
Throughout the beginning of the schoolyear I found myself always finding something to get me down. Whether that be the situation of having spent only two quarters at UCLA or my living situation during the beginning of fall quarter where I was sleeping in my family’s living room in our small apartment. It was not until I began to actually reflect on all the good things that I have in my life did I begin to wake up with a brighter attitude and feel more motivated in my academics. I will be honest, every single quarter has come with challenges, headaches, tears, long nights, and early mornings. Now that I look back at these past two quarters I want to be grateful for the lessons, growth, and blessings. I would like to continue working on my self-love and self-care so that I can be stronger and also live a life with more smiles than regrets. There are several things I am grateful for, but I will only mention one for each quarter which I put in my collage. For fall quarter, I am grateful for being able to travel to Mexico to live with my grandma and my great-grandparents these past three quarters. For winter quarter, I am grateful for being able to raise two cute puppies who always express their love with high jumps and harmless bites. Lastly, for spring quarter I am grateful for my mom who always manages to show me her endless and infinite love for me as she sent me my stitch (my favorite disney character). In my collage I also included some of the things that made my sophomore year a great *virtual* experience and I am truly so grateful for every moment of it. HaU has played a big role in my growth this year and for that I will always be extremely grateful for <3 Thank you all for any amazing year! I’m sending love, strength, good vibes, and hugs to anyone that is in need of them <3 -Les
Hey hermanas! My name is Karen Garcia and I was the academic chair intern for spring quarter. As my first year has come to an end, I've been reflecting on everything that has taken place over this past year. And while I'm proud of finishing off my first year of college in the middle of a global pandemic, I can't help feeling nostalgic of what could have been. But rather than dwell in it, I'm grateful for having had the opportunity to grow and for persisting during these challenging times. I'm glad I found a community in HaU and that I was able to meet new faces even if it was through a screen. From study-a-thons to GB meetings to planning my own event, I'll cherish every memory I have made so far and look forward to all the ones I will make. I know this is only the beginning and that the best is yet to come. I'm proud of all of you for making through it!! Enjoy your summer, you deserve it!! I look forward to meeting you all in person soon <3
Karen Garcia Hello everyone! I had the wonderful opportunity to be Fundraising Chair intern this quarter and I am really grateful for the experience of learning new skills and being more involved. I wanted to share this vision board I created for the Envision Your Future academic event. I really appreciated the opportunity to attend this event and hear from the amazing achievements and aspirations of others! I was able to incorporate some meaningful words and phrases into a scrapbook-style board. With much appreciation and admiration, Aracely Garcia Romero
As we enter into our last few weeks of spring quarter and the school year, I wanted to share a poem I made in my Chicano/a Studies 10A class alongside a visual representation, and I hope you all enjoy it.
Liberation from Culture’s Chains Culture builds beliefs and values, yet my culture refuses to value me. Appropriating devotion to the man, scandalizing the desires of the female. It is the assertion of marrying and having a family first, but never asking what you want out of life. Being a doctor, lawyer, teacher, engineer, is out of the question for a housewife. “Callate cuando él hable”. “Obedecelo porque es tu amado esposo”. The same, tyrannical remarks repeated to women day by day. Being told to silence our voice and be a marionette in front of men. Critiqued for speaking up And reprimanded for being deviant. Follow the predetermined rules And you are una santa. But the moment you break them eres una mujer mala. Every day can be a prison-sentence, seeking for the day that the chains of culture no longer weigh you down. Waiting days, weeks, months, and years. Sooner or later the opportunity will reach me, to become the individual I desire to be. My culture can critique, but its critiques will never define me. I shall redefine my path in life, leaving behind my submissive state. Culture will no longer control my choices and notions, as I liberate myself from these chains and step into a world of individualistic fates. Jacqueline Arroyo Palafox |
AuthorThe following posts will be from your fellow Hermanas. Archives
March 2023
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