UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG
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Navigating Your First Year as a USC Trojan
by Lanie Brice
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Navigating Your First Year as a Spring Admit
by Lanie Brice
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How to Balance Your Social Life During Finals
by Donal Buckley
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Study Tips and Habits to Get Through Finals Season
by Lauren Liang
looking for something to read?
How to Time-Manage Like a Pro
By: Natalia Wurst ‘21
There’s an informal consensus I’ve gathered from making conversation with sleep deprived people on elevators: midterm season is just a never-ending cycle of death that comes at you every few weeks and doesn’t go away. I make a lot of jokes about crying at Leavey for a girl who’s trying to seem reputable here, so we’ll put those aside for now–here’s how to finally get around to being productive in these very bleak times.
Continuing the conversation about mental health safe spaces
By: Jamie Wu ‘18
Daniella Mohazab is a senior studying Communication, Media Economics and Entrepreneurship, and is a first year masters student studying Communication Management. Aside from her passion for communication, she is also a strong advocate for the mental well-being of students on our USC campus as well as young adults across the U.S.
How to NOT get sick during midterms
By: Jamie Wu ‘18
Midterms season is already upon us, my friends. And with that, also everyone’s-getting-sick-season. But fear not, here are 5 easy steps you can take to stop yourself from getting sick!
8am Survival Guide
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Before coming to college, I was a morning person. I typically would wake up early and do chores, exercise, and cook. I truly thought I was the early-bird who catches the worm. My first 8am proved me wrong. My first semester of freshman year I had an 8am on Mondays and it was h-e-double hockey stick. I was constantly late, tired and cranky. I forgot assignments and even went to the wrong classroom sometimes. Eventually, I learned from my mistakes and was able to thrive and get an A in the class. I bet you’re wondering how I did it, aren’t you? Keep reading for 8am survival tips.
Sustainability for Students
By: Danielle Collins ‘20
Once again, it’s time to make resolutions for the new year. This year, why not do more than hit the gym and drink smoothies? Why not make resolutions to do our part for the environment? We’re all college students and have a lot on our minds and a lot on our plates. But there are so many little ways to help the environment that, despite hearing hundreds of times, many people still don’t do. Let me share some of the little things I already do to be environmentally friendly, and some things I want to start doing, or do better. (inspired by USC’s Sustainable Living Guide)
How to Declutter Your Space Before the Break
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Let’s face it, the semester is basically over. It’s the last week of classes and I bet you all are extremely stressed and exhausted. I get it! On top of studying, finishing up projects and writing essays, some of you have to pack and tidy up for the winter break. This was very difficult for me my freshman year. It was my first college break and I didn’t know what I needed to bring home and how to prepare for the upcoming holidays. My advice to you all is to make sure your room is tidy and neat BEFORE you leave for the break. In addition to not coming back to a huge mess and clutter, a clean room made my studying more effective and helped me clear my head. To help jumpstart your pre-winter break tasks, here are the tips and tricks to de-cluttering your room before you leave.
Meditation Tips for College Students
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
It seems like it’s always something when it comes to our health and wellness. From yoga to barre to being gluten-free or juicing every day; there is always a new trend. “Mindfulness” and “meditation” are popular buzzwords these days but they’ve been a part of my life for almost 10 years! I started meditating after attending group yoga when I was in middle school. My parent’s had recently gotten divorced and my mom found it was a good way to channel and focus negative energy and thoughts. 7 years later, I found she was right.
“You Can Sit With Us” - Bystander Intervention Tips
By: Joy Ofodu ‘18
You’re on Menlo, partying on a Thursday night. That girl who sits to your far left in Discussion every Tuesday is going hard on the dance floor (so you join her, duh). You part ways and bump into each other an hour later, but something has changed: She seems sluggish, exhausted and unwilling to follow her new companion out the door (a dude you absolutely don’t recognize). He seems really impatient to take her home, and she seems really really unwilling. What do you do?
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).
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).