Michelle Balatbat has gone through the ups and downs of starting over in new schools multiple times.
Changing high schools in her junior year, she learned to be outgoing and personable to become part of a community. Then in college, she learned the importance of being involved again when she started at UCLA, leaving UC Merced for a new challenge.
Because of her experience as a transfer student and her desire to help other students on campus, Balatbat, a fourth-year political science student, is running for the transfer representative seat in this week’s Undergraduate Students Association Council special election. She said she thinks that with her approachability and her ideas, she could help each transfer student find a niche at UCLA.
“Michelle is dedicated to what she does and holds herself responsible,” said Kimberly Ou, a fourth-year economics student and friend since high school. “She has ideas that would improve the transfer student’s college experience and knows how to implement them.”
Currently, Balatbat is the co-director of the Transfer Student Alliance. She is also the executive director of student group outreach and was formerly the student group liaison in the Internal Vice President’s office.
“Michelle has a vision and will do everything in her power to make sure it happens,” said USAC Internal Vice President Avinoam Baral. “She is an extremely fun and dynamic person and would bring a unique perspective to the table at USAC.”
During her time as co-director of the Transfer Student Alliance, Balatbat said some students came to her for advice on how to balance academics and involvement in student group activities. Some students also asked about ways to find career opportunities and told her that they felt disengaged from the UCLA community, she said.
“Transfer students go to organizations like the Transfer Student Alliance because they want to find that space where they feel connected,” Balatbat said. “I think the best way to do that is to get involved, but as much as I say it, it’s very difficult to do that.”
Because she has seen a disconnect between transfer students and the rest of UCLA while working in USAC, Balatbat developed her platforms around the idea that transfer students need more ways and resources to get involved at UCLA.
If elected, she wants to create a Transfer Success Guide, which would provide students with information about ways to join student groups and find academic advising resources.
Balatbat said she also hopes to initiate Transfers Go to Work, a series of quarterly workshops, with the help of the Student Alumni Association. These workshops would provide networking opportunities by having UCLA alumni working in various industries meet with transfer students to share their career skills and opportunities.
Balatbat added that she intends to increase transfer student housing on The Hill with the intent of building a community among transfers. She based this platform partially from her personal experience with limited housing opportunities, when she was unable to obtain the transfer-themed student housing hall she wanted last year.
“Having these experiences and getting to know what transfer students really need has motivated me to use my abilities to give back to the community and make UCLA a more friendly and connected environment,” Balatbat said. “I want to use this opportunity to empower my fellow transfer students.”