Andrea Shahrabani
Number of quarters in CCL: 2
Why do you think it is important to study diversity and inclusion? I believe we should study diversity and inclusion because it is important to understand and be open-minded towards cultures other than your own. Without being exposed to other cultures and communities, people are less likely to be empathetic and more likely to judge others because of their differences. Learning about diversity is a vital step towards being a more caring and informed person.
Describe a time you felt socially connected to UCLA? Being a transfer student, I was always worried that I will not feel like a "typical" student at UCLA. Since I had less time with the campus, I felt that I might be an outsider rather than someone who is a part of the UCLA community. However, after making an effort in my first year to spend more time on campus and meet new people, I felt very included and proud to be a Bruin. The time I felt the most connected was during the Spring Sing show; Pauley Pavilion was packed with students just like me and I felt a great sense of pride and community to be a part of the experience.