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?
Reviving Tommy’s Place Trivia
By: Talia Walters ‘20
If you’re anything like me, you haven’t been to Tommy’s Place at all since your orientation when they hosted a party the one night you were there. In all honesty, with the introduction of the Village and the sheer fact that we’re in LA with hundreds if not thousands of different clubs and restaurants, Tommy’s Place isn’t usually anyone’s go-to on campus despite its easy access. And I always saw that chalkboard right outside RTCC with all the events at Tommy’s Place for the week and wondered what they were really like since I know no one who chose to go to them. However, this little experiment that was supposed to take me three days has now taken me three weeks, and even at the time of writing this article, it’s still an ongoing challenge. And I need your help. Thus, this is the story of me attempting to Revive Tommy’s Place Trivia.
A Historical Scavenger Hunt Through USC
By: Camila Grases ‘21
As everyone starts to settle into a constant routine — to class, back home, eat at this dining hall or that one, take the same route there and back every time — it’s really easy to miss some of the amazing things USC has to offer. If you really take a look around, you might find some pretty amazing things that will make you realize USC is full of history, good or bad, that’s worth taking a look at. I have compiled a list of some neat places you should visit while you are here, so grab a friend and take a look around!
How USC Met Josh Radnor
By: Ann Nguyen ‘22
Haaaaaaaaaaaave you met Josh Radnor, a.k.a. Ted Mosby from the popular sitcom series How I Met Your Mother (HIMYM)?
If you were able to join the USC Academic Culture Assembly’s special speaker event as part of Mental Health Awareness Month on October 24 at Bovard Auditorium, then you did! If you weren’t able to, here’s a recap of the lovely experience, in which Radnor shared his thoughts on passions, personal development, success, struggles, and self-image. It was absolutely legen-wait for it-
Updated Explore LA: Smorgasburg
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Every Sunday from 10AM to 4PM Smorgasburg LA can be found in the oddly gentrified factory lot located at 777 S Alameda St, Los Angeles, CA 90021. This is the perfect place for foodies to bring their friends to try some of LA’s signature food fusions. Not only is there great food, but it’s also a great place to just canvas shop and enjoy aesthetic lifestyle stands (after all, admission is free!). Looking for fun weekend plans? Keep reading!
7 Reasons You Should Go Thrifting
By: Karla Leung ‘22
If you’re a broke college student who wants to shop, thrift stores are the way to go. Not only can you find super cool items, but you can save both money and the environment.
Life Lessons from Jameela Jamil’s Talk at USC
By: Antonia Le ‘22
On October 28, actress and activist Jameela Jamil came to USC and spoke at Bovard Auditorium in a discussion moderated by Dr. Stacy Smith, of USC’s Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. Jamil’s talk at USC was sponsored by USC’s very own SAGE (Student Assembly for Gender Empowerment), working with USG, USC Speakers Committee, ISA, and SCIA. During the event, Jamil spoke about self-love, being an activist, and staying strong in the face of criticism and adversity. If you had to miss the event, here are some bits of wisdom from Jamil that should be heard by everyone.
The Best Ways to Get Around Los Angeles & Beyond from USC
By: Karla Leung ‘22
USC is in the heart of Los Angeles, making it extremely convenient to get around and explore the LA area. However, getting around can get pretty pricey. Knowing all your options, whether you want to road trip to San Francisco or just go shopping at The Grove, can help you save time and money.
The Perfect Tailgate Playbook
By: Ann Nguyen ‘22
By now, you’re sure to have seen tents lined up throughout campus certain Saturday mornings and the occasional Friday afternoon. People are all dressed up in cardinal and gold as kids (and college students, alike) run around tossing footballs back and forth. The smell of delicious grilled food permeates the air, and you’re left wondering, “How can I get some of that?” Well, hopefully, I can alleviate your worries, clear up any confusion, and coach you to become a tailgating pro just in time for Trojan Family Weekend.
No Planning Required: Spontaneous Fall Break Day Trips
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
If you hadn’t heard already, USC is implementing fall break this year! Essentially, we have a 4 day weekend starting on Thursday Oct. 17th. Here are some fun last-minute ideas for fall break. Don’t like planning outings? No worries, I’ve done the planning for you! I’ve listed four days worth of day trips to different locations in LA. For each destination, I’ve covered the basics of transportation, my favorite food places (one meal, one dessert/snack), and a fun activity. Keep reading for a detailed itinerary.
The Trojan Farmer’s Market
By: Alexis M Peters ‘20
I don’t know if you’ve noticed, but every Wednesday—right on USC’s campus in McCarthy Quad—is a farmer’s market. It’s honestly such a great system considering that USC is kind of in a food desert. Meaning: it can be pretty difficult to get fresh and nutritious food options around here. The introduction of Trader Joe’s and Target in the village has been a total lifesaver, but it’s so nice to have the farmer’s market to supplement your fridge stash with fresh, local, beautifully glistening produce, and support local businesses at the same time. Haven’t checked it out? Read on to find out what amazing stuff you’re missing at the farmer’s market, and why farmer’s markets are better than traditional grocery stores:
Exposing the Expo Line... a few hidden gems you probably didn’t know about
By: Lindsey Hamilton ‘22
This is a great time to be alive. No, not because of modern technology or vaccines or Bird scooters. The Expo line running from downtown to Santa Monica has connected the beach to the city since May of 2016. That makes it only the third ―the third!― year that USC students have been able to take advantage of all of the fun destinations now available to us. It’s a great time to be alive. But there’s a lot of city in between the beach and downtown. Here’s what I found…