Kindred spirits: Embracing opportunity and resilience connects UCLA graduating seniors

One wouldn't think that a student of education who moved to the United States from Japan and has two grown children would share core personal values with an 18-year-old professional actor from Ventura County on a pre-law track.

But as it turns out, one of the youngest and one of the most senior graduates going through the Class of 2026 commencement ceremonies at UCLA have more in common than meets the eye.

Mayu Sasame and August Maturo both came to UCLA as transfer students two years ago and will earn bachelor's degrees with majors and minors. Both have loving family members who will be in the audience at commencement ceremonies - family members who offered endless encouragement along the way.

Both let their curiosity guide them to take advantage of every opportunity they could at UCLA, and both view resilience as a positive, recognizing that being denied opportunities is a normal, and even helpful part of the pathway through college, and ultimately life.

Completing a UCLA dream

Sasame, who is completing a major in education and social transformation and a minor in UCLA School of the Arts and Architecture's Visual and Performing Arts Education program, completed three associate degrees at a private junior college in Chiba, Japan, El Camino College in Torrance and Berkeley City College in Berkeley.

Maturo completed three associate degrees at Moorpark College, where he attended from age 14 through 16. He is receiving his bachelor's degree in English, with a minor in film, television and digital media.

"It's always been the dream to go to UCLA, and it was the best decision I ever made," said Maturo, who has also amassed credits including the television shows "Girl Meets World" and "9-1-1."

Maturo continued acting while attending Moorpark College, completing asynchronous coursework on set before transitioning to in-person classes during his final year. He then stepped away from acting to focus on his education and fully immerse himself in the UCLA experience.

"Most teenage roles are played by actors in their 20s, so I didn't feel like I was sacrificing my career by prioritizing school," Maturo said. "I knew those opportunities would still be there, and pursuing my education was important to me."

Sasame said she didn't think she could get into UCLA, especially because English was her second language. She remembers checking her email at 3 a.m. in the morning to find out she had gotten accepted, and her excitement woke up her family members, who have always supported her. She also remembers showing her Bruin card to one of her best friends. Her friend started screaming, "You are going to UCLA!" in excitement.

Sasame took part in the UCLA's First-Gentorship program, the Transfer Summer Program through the Academic Advancement Program, the inaugural Transfer New Bruin Leadership Academy, SOAR Bruin Leadership Project, LAUSD community engagement as a teaching artist, Fowler Museum internship, and volunteered for nature projects and communities. She also studied abroad in Bali, taking part in the summer UCLA Global Internship Program and working at an environmental organization. She joined the Bruin Birding Club, tried out Kyodo Taiko Club and Ritmo Vivo Latin Dance Club, and completed her capstone by creating an education action project for the safe and environmentally responsible recycling of batteries focused on community-based participatory research. Her mentee experience in the first year encouraged becoming a Transfer Mentor in the second year, and she has mentored transfer students since their arrival at UCLA.

"You really never know how someone who you meet in one of these activities will end up changing the trajectory of your life or experience at UCLA," she said.

The next chapters

Sasame will be attending major and minor commencement ceremonies held at Wilson Plaza and Dickson Court North, and graduation celebrations including ones for students with dependents, Asian Pacific Islanders, and first-generation students, having earned Latin honors, the Chancellor's Service Award, and True Bruin Tradition Medal. She will be looking into the audience for her daughter and son, who have encouraged her and motivated her throughout her journey to UCLA. Sasame will be taking a gap year after graduation and summer quarter, visiting family in Japan and preparing to apply to graduate school.

Like Sasame, Maturo found many opportunities at UCLA since arriving two years ago. He joined the social fraternity Theta Xi and the pre-law coed fraternity Phi Alpha Delta.

He will attend the large commencement ceremony in Pauley Pavilion, the UCLA honors commencement ceremony, having earned College honors, departmental honors and Latin honors, and the English department ceremony. He will be scanning the large number of spectators for his grandmother, who helped homeschool him and who has supported him throughout his life and educational career, encouraging him and telling him to never give up on his dreams. After graduation, Maturo will be taking a gap year, studying for the LSAT, interviewing and seeking a summer legal internship and preparing to apply to law school.

Finding community and purpose

Maturo said "finding your people" helps students stay on track and feel a sense of belonging.

"UCLA is a big school, so it's easy to get lost," he said. "I recommend when you are here, to get involved, go to the Enormous Activities Fair. There are so many opportunities, it would be a waste not to go. You meet so many people you would not have thought you would meet by getting involved in activities. It feels so amazing. You find your place. You see people you know around campus."

Sasame shared a similar sentiment.

"I tried everything I was interested in and met so many incredible people, who ended up giving me encouragement to do better. It was also nice to see those people around campus and to say 'hi,'" Sasame said.

"The people who come to UCLA are so motivated to do everything. Just having all those people together, I was motivated to do more. I got rejected from some UCLA opportunities, but I learned that rejection is redirection, and good for me. You just move on," she said.

"When one door closes, another one opens," Maturo said.