Hello! My name is Adebanke ‘Banke’ (she/her/hers), and I’m currently a senior and second-year transfer student studying Political Science with a minor in Global Studies. I grew up in the South Bay, specifically Palos Verdes and San Pedro, right beside Catalina Island.

During my time at UCLA, I’ve had the privilege of being involved in some truly incredible organizations. I’ve advocated for women’s reproductive rights with IGNITE, a student org that successfully pushed for menstrual products to be placed in campus restrooms. I serve as Co-Styling Director for Hair and Makeup within Fashion and Student Trends (FAST), the first and largest fashion organization on campus, with 13 committees and over 200 members. Through the Nigerian Student Association, I serve as the Internal Nigerian Student Coalition Conference Coordinator, where I’ve found a deep sense of cultural community. In Fall 2025, I participated in the Student Affairs Leadership Academy, connecting with campus leaders across departments and building leadership skills that extend well beyond my career. During my first year, I also served as Outreach Manager for the Transfer Coordinator role within ASU. And this past year, I’ve worked at the Transfer Student Center on the communications team creating content, analyzing analytics, and welcoming fellow transfer students at the front desk.

Now that you know what I’ve been up to, I’d love to share the three themes that have guided my time at UCLA since transferring in Fall 2024: My Why, Persistence, and Community.

My Why

In a world where so much is uncertain, one thing you can always be certain of is yourself, who you choose to be and how you show up each day. Whether you’re sitting in a community college classroom or walking through the halls of Royce, your core values remain constant. Are you pursuing higher education to support your local community? To help others? To break generational barriers? Or simply to grow into a version of yourself that your younger self would be proud of?

For me, it’s the desire to help others that has kept me going. At the Transfer Student Center, no two days are ever the same. I’ve met students eager to get involved, searching for campus resources, looking for a quiet place to study, or simply needing directions to the Bruin Card office. I love every bit of it. One of my earliest and most cherished memories at the center was a Transfer Student Game Night during my very first quarter. That night, surrounded by fellow transfers, I realized: not only would I be okay, but I could genuinely thrive here and bring my why into action along the way.

The transfer community is full of people who want to see each other grow. Identify your why, and find ways to weave it into your organizations, your conversations, and the spaces where you were always meant to be.

Persistence

Persistence is what will carry you through the inevitable challenges of life at UCLA, academic, emotional, or financial. Don’t let those obstacles pull you away from your why. Reach out to the resources available to you, advocate for yourself, and don’t get discouraged. If you haven’t heard back after three or four business days, send that follow-up email. The resources on this campus exist for students to take full advantage of them, because people here genuinely want to help. It just takes persistence to find the right person or opportunity.

My own persistence story is rooted in research. I wasn’t sure I wanted to pursue research during my first year, but near the end of it, something clicked. I wanted to challenge myself to experience the creativity of crafting my own research question. So I got a late start, but it was my start. I emailed a professor and followed up consistently over the course of six months. It didn’t work out with that professor, but because I kept showing up as the best version of myself in my coursework during that time, I built a meaningful relationship with another professor who is now my faculty advisor. Even when things don’t unfold the way you planned, persistence in other areas can open doors you never anticipated.

Persist, especially when it’s inconvenient.

Community

Why go through it alone when you can have an entire community cheering you on?

Despite being a large university, UCLA has a remarkable way of feeling small. Within the Transfer Student Center, the year is anchored by signature events designed to help students find their people: Transferpalooza in the fall, Transfer Bruin Week in the winter, and Transfer Bruin Day to welcome the incoming transfer class. Beyond these major events, a dedicated community engagement team creates ongoing experiences both within the center and in collaboration with other campus offices where students can make meaningful connections and feel genuinely supported. More than you might expect, people want to follow your journey and cheer you on.

As my time at UCLA draws to a close, my heart is full knowing that I’ve left a positive mark on the transfer community, not just through my work at the center, but through the relationships I’ve built with faculty, staff, and peers every single day. The lessons I’ve learned here, leading with your why, persisting through challenges, and leaning on community, will support you far beyond your academic journey.

Welcome to UCLA. You belong here!