Testimonials

Alumni who became mentors joined the program for a variety of reasons. When they were asked why they chose to become a mentor, below are a selection of their responses. If you would like to share your experience in helping a young Bruin reach their full potential, please visit www.alumni.ucla.edu/mentor or contact alumnimentor@alumni.ucla.edu.

“My experience as an undergraduate (as well as in numerous graduate programs) demonstrated to me the need for mentorship beyond what can be provided by individuals within the academic world. My experience at UCLA filled me with a desire to give back to the school; and this is an effective and simple means of doing so.”

“I find a great sense of satisfaction and reward from watching the growth and development of other people. I live in San Francisco but this last year working with [my student] has shown that through email; text and phone calls (plus the occasional in person visit); you can have an impact on someone else's life and develop a bond that will last years and not months.”

“As an undergrad; my alumni mentor was a great resource and I am happy to call a friend and fellow alum. Now that I am graduated; I am happy to try and be that same resource for another student; as a recent grad I have a fresher perspective of the undergraduate experience. I also experienced much of what the campus has to offer; coming in initially as a math major and throughout my time becoming involved in the dorms, in Greek Life and in ASC. I hope to be able to share my experiences with the next generation of Bruins."

“UCLA has opened up many doors to me. I feel an obligation to give back. In the early years of my career I did not have a mentor to guide me through the world of early career development. I would like to help current UCLA students by providing mentorship based upon my own lessons learned.”

“The journey after college is filled with a lot of unknowns. As a previous participant in the program, I feel it is important for all UCLA students to have a mentor to help guide them through questions that their peers may not be able to address. When I was a student, I had a lot of questions and concerns and I wish I would have applied to be in the program so I could get the opinion and guidance from someone who's already been through college and the first few years of establishing their career.”

“I've been a mentor the past 3 out of 4 years. I am still in touch with the last student who is currently pursuing a career in the nonprofit world. With over 25 years of work experience from public accounting to accounting and finance in public companies (food, entertainment and sports) and now in the nonprofit world plus on-going involvement in the UCLA Department of Economics, I feel I can provide valuable guidance to many students and I enjoy staying in touch with UCLA and learning from them.”

“I had a great experience at UCLA and would love to pay it forward by supporting others. I recognize that the opportunities available at UCLA are immense - and can also be overwhelming. I'd love to work with a current student to support them in their journey through both the academic and social environments of UCLA as well as through their transition out of UCLA.”

“This will be my sixth year as a mentor and it's been a really rewarding experience. I've seen two of my mentees graduate (one is working; the other pursuing a Ph.D. in engineering). I've placed 2 of my mentees in undergraduate research positions at UCLA labs; and one mentee (pre-law; aspiring patent attorney) is interning in my office. Some of my mentees are in contact with me more than others, so what you get out of it depends on what you put into it. The Alumni Mentor Program has been a great way for me to stay connected to the UCLA community and lend a helping hand to fellow Bruins.”

“I have been a mentor to students at UCLA for over 10+ years; having mentored over 500+ undergrads and graduates. I generally tailor my involvement to be whatever best suits the needs of the student; to help them achieve their personal and career goals.”

“UCLA is an amazing place and I'm proud to be part of the Bruin network. I wish I had taken advantage of the networking opportunities with alums as an undergrad and now I want to provide those opportunities for current students.”

“I have previously served as a mentor and I found the experience to be very rewarding. The benefits of attending UCLA stretch far beyond the classroom and developing a network through a mentorship program is a great way to improve the student experience. Futhermore, mentorship programs serve to benefit the university as well. Looking back to my time as an undergraduate I found mentors to be key contributors to my academic and professional decisions. Thus, I would like to return the favor!”

“I was lucky enough to have great mentors at UCLA and looking forward to providing the same experience to the next generation.”

“I think it's helpful to have someone who has been through UCLA and has transitioned from school to private industry to bounce questions off of and to provide perspective and advice.”

“As a UCLA grad, I love to continue being involved with the UCLA community. As a mentor, I hope to contribute my experience in order to provide career guidance and to prepare my mentee for the post-grad life.”

“After graduating college, I thought I knew everything. Now I know how much I really knew (not a lot). It took me quite a while to figure certain things out. I'd love to help short circuit that for any interested students.”

“My 4 years at UCLA were the best of my life and I would love to help and get to know a current undergrad who loves the school as much as I do! I think that the possibilities of mentorship extend beyond the program and this is a great way to stay connected to UCLA. The UCLA community is filled with incredible people and connecting those people together will lead to the power of the Bruin community extending well beyond Westwood.”

“Having grown up in a low-income community, I am keenly aware of the value that my own mentors have played in my career. Given the advice and wisdom that they have provided I know I would not be where I am today without their help. At this point in my career, I am excited to offer the same support to another student.”

“The mentor program is an excellent way for students and alumni to engage. The program, by design, is intended to have students learn from alumni they are paired with, and to bounce their ideas and thoughts off of those alumni. However, alumni actually learn from the students, and gain a fresh perspective on their ideas and passions. Their enthusiasm, intuitiveness and sheer intelligence is infectious and a truly gratifying and humbling experience for all alumni who participate.”