Favorite Classes at UCLA

I have taken over 30 different courses throughout my time here at UCLA and I undoubtedly have my favorites. This post is for current students to learn, past students to commemorate, and just t get to know me a bit more.

1. Psychiatry 79: Applied Positive Neuroscience: Skills for Improving Productivity and Wellbeing w/ Alexander Korb

This class was dedicated to teaching college students how to cope with

stressors and practice different techniques for improving mental health

and wellness. I learned why I might be feeling off some days and exactly what was going on in my brain. I also learned different coping mechanisms and

practices I could try every day to help me live the healthiest life possible. Some of these habits included drinking more water, staying off my phone before bed, meditating, exercising at least 3 X a week, and practicing gratitude. I did notice significant changes in my mood and stress levels, and recorded this on an app over the course of ten weeks. Overall, this was the most impactful and interesting course I took at UCLA.

2. Psychiatry 175: Mindfulness Practice and Theory w/ Marvin Belzer

Marvin Belzer was the most thoughtful, enthusiastic, and charismatic professor I had in all my time at UCLA. This entire course was on the practice of mindfulness and meditation. In this course, we were never required to memorize material, take any difficult exams, or fill out a scantron. Instead, we were asked to meditate on a daily basis (either through walking meditation, sitting meditation, or mindfulness) and log our journey with this new practice in our lives. I found that I really enjoyed meditation and the act of using mindfulness throughout my normal daily activities such as cooking. So, for my final project, I created a website dedicated to mindful cooking: highlighting its benefits, how to do it, and listed some recipes to go along with it.

3. Economics 173 A & B: Introduction to Social Entrepreneurship

Social Entrepreneurship was the most hands-on, real world experience I had in my time at UCLA. This course involved getting into a team and working with a real not-for-profit company in the LA Area. Our goal was to create a revenue generating venture for this company and pitch it to a panel of successful judges who would award three groups some amount of money from the $30,000 grand-prize. The team I was placed on was for the Los Alamitos Youth Center. They were an after-school club for children in the Los Alamitos/ Long Beach area that provided kids with a safe space to play, learn, and grow. Our venture was an away after school camp called Camp Shark ASA (or Camp Shark After School Adventures). This was modeled and branded after the Youth Center's already successful venture, Camp S.H.A.R.K., a summer camp they ran each year. Ultimately, our team was awarded second place and we received over $13,000 for the start-up stages of our venture.