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 a specific read?
Setting realistic standards 101
By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24
Most goals cannot be achieved overnight. While I may go to bed early one night, creating consistency and not falling back on my old habits is hard. I’m trying to implement this goal by setting a routine or schedule for myself, and being okay with not perfectly meeting my goals all the time.
How to fix your sleep schedule
By: Sydney Fioerentino ‘24
I used to be an insomniac. I couldn’t fall asleep no matter how hard I tried, and I would stay awake until 3-5 a.m. each night. My body felt tired, but my mind was lit up worrying about school. When I couldn’t take it anymore, I knew something had to give.
What I’m Doing Differently This Semester
By: Kathryn Aurelio ’25
It’s that time of year again where we’re all jamming our notes app with new year's resolutions, collaging magazine clippings into a vibrant vision board, and saving TikToks of new food plans (and never clicking on them again). My Fall 2022 semester was jam-packed with extracurricular activities, an internship, and work-study jobs, and while I see a pattern of the workload repeating itself this semester, I hope to prioritize—or at least hold to the same level—my physical and mental health. This semester, I’m breaking the cycle…and I’m using this article to hold me to it.
5 tips to deal with jetlag, college edition
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
Going to class hours after getting off a 12 hour flight is no fun. Not only was I exhausted from the trip, but I was also jet lagged after being in a drastically different time zone. Since adjusting to a new semester is hard enough when you’re running in the correct time zone, here’s some tips to get through the day.
A brief review of USC’s free vegan meals
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
Every Tuesday from 12-1pm, USC students can grab a vegan meal from the pop-up Jubilee Vegan Cafe at the University Religious Center. I’m lucky enough to not have class during that time slot, and being a huge fan of free food, I’m there pretty much every Tuesday. Here’s my review of some of the fascinating meals they’ve served throughout this semester.
Setting Boundaries: Saying "No"
By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24
I struggled with this, especially with friendships. I’m more of a selfless type of person, and last semester, every time I was invited to someone’s house or to go out to a party, I would say yes. In my head, this was my chance to make friends and have an exciting college experience, but internally, I felt socially exhausted and just wanted to stay home sometimes.
How to Avoid Seasonal Depression as a College Student
By: Ani Antonyan ‘24
The colder, shorter days exacerbate seasonal sadness, [but] while it might seem unavoidable as you feel the darkness of campus close in around you , there are ways to help yourself. If you’re feeling extra tired, unmotivated, and sad as the winter progresses, you’re not alone—here are some tips on how we can combat seasonal depression.
Your Future Hobb(ies):
By: Ela Rybak ‘25
Sometimes I only have half an hour to catch up with family and friends, but recently, I’ve recognized how much better I feel when I take time to do things unrelated to work or school. Here’s some inspiration for hobbies and activities that will help your well-being during this hectic season.
Free and Accessible Activities I Recommend for Your Downtime
By: Nancy Aguilar Sanchez ‘22
Once you finally have the time between classes, exams, and homework to go explore LA, it’s often hard to find activities that are free or affordable. Here’s some inspiration for the next time you want to go out without blowing your budget!
Hate the Gym? This class will change your mind!
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
Last semester, no matter how hard I tried to take care of myself and go to the gym, I found myself making excuses. I hated going to the gym and felt like I didn’t know what I was doing. Knowing my struggles, a friend suggested I try out PHED 104A. It turned out to be one of the best classes I’ve taken at USC!
The Perfect Hike For You
By: Ela Rybak ‘25
As USC students, it’s easy to get overwhelmed with work and find ourselves not going outside as much as we probably should. Hiking is a great way to get out and relieve stress, but it’s easy to get overwhelmed trying to find the perfect trail!
I Meditated for 30 days Straight, and You Should Too
By: Juan Miguel Bugayong ‘25
Each breath marked the formation of my inner peace, working towards focusing on not what I needed to do, or what I have done, but what I have in the present moment. If anything, meditation has taught me how to be more present in the day, and with anxiety running through my mind almost 24/7, it gave me room to actually slow down and breathe.