UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG
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Navigating Your First Year as a Spring Admit
by Lanie Brice
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Navigating Your First Year as a USC Trojan
by Lanie Brice
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Off Campus Housing Hunt and Avoiding Scams
by Lauren Liang
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How to Balance Your Social Life During Finals
by Donal Buckley
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College Application Tips for a Prospective USC Student
by Kathryn Aurelio
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Study Tips and Habits to Get Through Finals Season
by Lauren Liang
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A Guide to Holiday Activities in LA
by Kayla Bowens
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Easy Road Trips from LA
by Ela Rybak
Trojans360 Articles
Grief, Loss & Death in College.
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
There is no surprise that college is stressful. Between balancing work, friendships, internships and your financial life, these formative years teach us a lot about ourselves and the way we handle stress. In the event that something tragic happens, it can be hard to cope and balance it with the already strenuous college experience. In April as I was preparing for finals, my father passed suddenly. My world was flipped upside down. I talked to my dad twice everyday about anything from my lectures in my law class to Colin Kaepernick to drama with my friends. Suddenly not having him there to talk to for advice threw off daily life. No day felt complete. I was depressed - unable to focus and constantly feeling empty. Loss and subsequent grief can come in many forms. Whether it is being rejected from your dream internship (it’s happened to me), experiencing a heart-wrenching breakup, or losing a loved one, there are healthy and effective ways deal with the pain.
Pause for Paws at USC
By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20
As the school year is rollin’ by, some of you might already be in need of some stress relief (like moi). And fortunately for USC students, we have some special companions that’ll be just the right being to help us. And yes – I’m talking about therapy dogs (or puppies, as I like to call all dogs).
5 Ways To Organize Your Life in Time For Finals
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Anyway you frame it, preparing for finals can be stressful. Whether they come in the form of your normal tests, essays or other types of projects; these assessments are of the utmost importance because they reflect the hard work you’ve put in all semester and play a major role in your final grade. Personally, I’ve found myself stacked with studying, finishing projects, writing essays and completing other important personal tasks during this time. In addition to the stress there seems to be an attitude amongst many professors that their class assignments are the most important. Despite these tensions, here are five pieces of advice you can take into the next few weeks in order to reduce your stress and get your stuff together during this stressful time.
Truths From a Sober Trojan (FAQ)
By: Joy Ofodu ‘18
I have delayed writing this for at least two years for fear of doing it wrong; I don’t want my relayed sobriety experience to be pedantic or preachy, or stuffy, or polished or dishonest. Having survived another 4/20 in Los Angeles, it seems High Time to publicly answer questions that have plagued and amused me since I made the decision that I’d go through college without a drop of alcohol (or any other substance, for that matter).
Self Care at ‘SC
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Between midterms, jobs, internships, homework, and relationships taking time for yourself can be the last thing on a student’s mind. Taking on too many tasks, overbooking yourself, and never slowing down can put a student in a diminished physical, emotional, and mental state.
Counseling Services at USC
By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20
There should never be a day or moment where you don’t put your mental health first. You may have heard of the awesome resources at the OWHP Wellness Lounge, but have you heard of the counseling services on the third floor? If you’re going through depression, anxiety, and/or other mental health issues, this place may be what you need.
How To Keep Up A Vegan Lifestyle at USC
By: Adriana Bernal Martinez ‘20
Leading a vegan lifestyle isn’t necessarily a walk in the park (though it may or may not involve plenty of those). Leading a vegan lifestyle while in college, however, is a next level of difficulty. Not only is it awfully tempting to get a burger from The Habit at Tutor Campus Center, but it’s notably difficult to know exactly what’s going into your body when eating in the dining halls. Here is a guide of helpful tips and tricks for maintaining a vegan diet on campus (fear not, most of these tips can also be utilized for a generally more health-conscious semester as well).
Gym Intimidation at Lyon: You’re Not Alone
By: Terry Nguyen ‘20
USC’s gym can be a frightening place to those unfamiliar with the humid aroma of Lyon Center’s testosterone-filled, intimidatingly sweaty crowd. No matter what time of day it is or whatever the weather conditions are, Lyon is sure to be inhabited by at least several weight-lifting fitness junkies and cardio enthusiasts, both of whom make up a sizable portion of the USC student body.
Gender-Based Violence in Asian-American Communities
By: Shannon Lam ’19
I was 10-years-old when I was first sexually harassed. I was at the grocery store with my parents. Normally, I stick by my parents, walking next to the cart, admiring the vast options of chips and cookies. However, at one point, my mom realized we had forgotten to grab the milk. Me, adventurous and trying to be as independent as a 10-year-old could be, offered to quickly go grab it. My mom was hesitant at first, but since the milk aisle was just a few aisles down, she let me go. It was only for a brief second, but as I leaned into the fridge to pick up the milk, I felt a hand on my butt. I turned around and a middle-aged man quickly walked past me. At first, I didn’t think much of it. Maybe I was taking up too much room in the empty aisle, maybe I was in the way, maybe it was my fault. When I walked back to my mom, there was a sinking feeling that was hard to describe at 10-years-old. Something didn’t sit right with me. I felt lost, I felt guilty, I felt violated. At 10-years-old.
A Trojan’s Guide to Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
By: Anna Lipscomb
It’s 2017! New year, new you. Do you want to live a healthier lifestyle this year? Learn a new language? Save more money? Stop procrastinating? Here’s how you can keep up your New Year’s resolution at USC:
The Truth About Groping
By: Claire Porter ‘18 (Guest Blogger)
I experienced something last night that I read about countless times in my media classes. Just a few weeks ago, I read Denise Riley’s ‘Am I That Name?’: Feminism and the Category of ‘Women’ in History, in which she articulated the idea that a woman cannot transcend her womanhood. Regardless of what other categories define me, whether that is the color of my skin, my education, my job, etc., I will always be a woman at the core. And through this understanding, I, as a woman, am shown and told through normalized interactions that I will be subject to objectification. I attended a fraternity exchange in which the theme offered two outfit options: 1) dress like a scantily clothed woman, or 2) dress like a middle-aged man. It was obviously intended for the sorority women to wear less and the fraternity men to attempt to look 30 years older. I, however, wanting to break barriers but stay within the theme, decided to opt for dressing like an adult man. I borrowed my male friend’s button down, shorts, and belt, slipped on my converse, and tied my hair in a low bun before placing a baseball cap featuring the fraternity’s letters on my head. The only discernable feminine feature I still had was some makeup on my face.
Finals Resources
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
The finals schedule is fast approaching, the Thanksgiving leftovers are running low, and my stress levels have soared to new heights. Whether this is your first semester at USC or your last, the last few days of school are always filled with group projects, essays, exams, (oh my!).