This post is a part of the Student Blogger series – each post is written by a current UCLA Anderson student, and provides first-hand perspectives and experiences about being an MBA student at UCLA Anderson.

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You might not know it from the 70 to 80 degree temperatures these past few weeks, but Thanksgiving is most definitely in the air at UCLA Anderson. Both administration and student-facilitated “Friendsgivings” have been popping up left and right (see above), and Dean Judy Olian has even invited students who do not have family in the area to her home for a traditional Thanksgiving dinner.

Below, some of UCLA’s first year full-time MBA students share what they are uniquely thankful for this holiday season.

• Judy Zhou (Los Angeles, CA): LA. It’s a city that never runs out of things to do, places to see and people to meet. There are still parts that I haven’t explored and no matter what you like or who you identify with, there is a place and group of people here who will make you feel like you belong.
• Rony Vexelman (Lima, Perú): The approachability and helpfulness of Anderson’s Parker career advising team.
• Sammy Prywes (Rockville, MD): The second year students who take time out of their day to guide us through the interview/ recruiting process. Also, $2 ice cream sandwiches at Diddy Riese [editor’s note: this is a 7 minute drive from campus and 100% worth checking out].
• Neil Doshi (Munster, IN): Finding friends at Anderson who I can be myself around—this made the transition to a new city and environment so much smoother and more relaxed.
• Erin Kelm (San Jose, CA): The community of healthcare-focused students, because they give me an outlet to discuss the things I’m passionate about.
• Dan Pariseau (Tampa, FL) The friends I’ve made here who will be standing by my side at my wedding, sharing the success of accomplishing our career goals, and providing unwavering support for the ups and downs that life inevitably throws our way. I couldn’t imagine this Thanksgiving without them.
• Aubrey Rho (Pasadena, CA): Being closer to my family, and the 70 degree November weather!
• Alex Verdauger (Bethesda, MD): The fact that I was able to find such a warm, inclusive community after traveling 2,600 miles from home to a place where I knew no one.

• Allie Brodsky (New York, NY) and Angela Chau (San Francisco, CA): My Anderson learning team~
• Abby Williamson (Northbrook, IL): The wonderful community at Anderson and all the people I’ve become such good friends with over the last few months.
• Becca Katz (Hastings-on-Hudson, NY): Our extremely supportive alumni network, and the ability to wear gym clothes as my primary outfit at least 3 days/ week.
• Andy Schlicter (Phoenixville, PA): The collection of laughs and conversations I’ve had with close friends from Anderson, that have happened everywhere from study rooms in the library to late nights in people’s apartments.

To our international first year students who are celebrating Thanksgiving for the first time, we hope you enjoy this special time with your new friends.  And to all current, past, and future members of our UCLA Anderson community, we wish you all a wonderful Thanksgiving holiday! 

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Student Blogger: Becca Katz ’18

Undergrad: NYU, Marketing & Psychology

Pre-MBA: Retail eBusiness & Channel Strategy at Forrester Research

Leadership@Anderson:Forte Fellow; Marketing Association Director of Career Development; Anderson Admissions Corps Marketing Representative; Health & Wellness Club Director of Campus Nutrition; Challenge 4 Charity (C4C) Stanford Weekend Director

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