UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA
STUDENT BLOG

Trojans360 Articles
USG Senator Overview
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
The USG election cycle for the 2019–2020 year has officially ended! 4,777 people voted this time around, representing 23.9% of the undergraduate student body. Were you one of them? Although not every student voted, the Senate is meant to represent all students — so getting to know the candidates is probably a good idea. Read more to find out more about each elected senator and what you can expect from them for the next academic year.
Valentine’s Day Ideas: What to do with your 5 Love Languages Result
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
With Valentine’s day just around the corner, now’s the time to find out your love language, or how you most prefer to be loved. Keep reading to find self-love ideas (after all, you should be your own best lover) or Valentine’s ideas be it for friends or your special someone.
10+ Things to Do to Cheer Yourself up After Finals
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Finals are over! Great — but maybe you feel little less than ecstatic about how you did in certain classes. If that’s the case and you could use some advice on how to lift your spirits a bit, look no further.
No Gym? No Problem?: Stay Fit Over The Break
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
You’ve made it! The semester has ended, finals are over, and you might be back home ready to eat all the things. We Trojans love Lyon and the Village Recreation center. Still, those amenities aren’t necessarily available to all of us at home. It’s no secret that between food, family, and friends, staying fit over the holidays is a challenge for many people, but it doesn’t have to be. Gym memberships are hassle and boutique fitness classes are expensive, but there are other ways to stay fit and in tune with your body when away from the gym. Everyone’s body is different, and there’s no one size fits all approach to fitness. However, smaller actions like drinking water, walking when you can, or even maximizing your vegetable intake can go a long way in improving your overall health, especially during the holidays when the food is abundant. Once again, Trojans360 is here to rescue with ten gems for staying fit over winter break.
What To Watch on HBO GO
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Fun fact: All USC students are eligible for a free subscription to HBO GO; something I wish I knew before using up three of my emails on free trials. Amidst all the hustle and bustle of finals, a quick movie break could be exactly what you need, and what better way to do so than by using the subscription USC already provides? If you are looking for some justification to stop studying and start watching — I’m giving it to you. If you want some suggestions on what you could be binging as you work your way through finals week, read on!
Freshman Career Advice: “Don’t Stress!”
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Going to college, especially USC comes with a wealth of resources. Alumni, internships, job opportunities and more are all at your fingertips — but when you are a freshman coming into this completely new environment, it can be a bit overwhelming. You may feel like you need to take advantage of absolutely everything right off the bat or you might feel so overwhelmed you take part in absolutely nothing. The threat of unemployment after graduation is a constant topic of discussion and that fear can manifest itself in a really unhealthy mindset, especially as a freshman. If you feel a bit out of water in it all are just trying to find your footing in a place that is going two times your speed, this is the perfect guide to learn how to best make use of your freshman year.
When To Take A Class Pass/Fail
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
As the year begins to wind down and we make our plans for the next semester, you may or may not be considering taking a class Pass/Fail. While it is still pretty early in the decision-making process, it does not hurt to get a jump start in considering all your options. If you do not know what the Pass/Fail option is, you can read here to find out, but if you do and you are just not sure whether it is the right decision — keep on reading!
Preparing Your Body + Mind for Winter: Finals, Seasonal Depression and Family
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Winter is tough. Get ready and stay ready. Yes, Winter is the season to spend time with family over the holidays, drink hot chocolate, and take cute pictures in your coziest gear, but the colder months can bring about challenges for many of us. Seasonal depression, finals-induced stress, family drama, and terrible skin are just a few of the perils that may affect us, college students.
Recap: Women of Cinematic Arts Industry Panel w/ Sarah Gilman
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
One of the first clubs I signed up for as a freshman at USC, even before I officially began studying screenwriting, was Women of Cinematic Arts. As someone who did, and still does want to work in the film industry, I thought it’d be a great way to meet people with similar interest — and it is! In their own words, Women of Cinematic Arts is an “official alumnae organization of the University of Southern California School of Cinematic Arts. Since our founding in 2005, we have been dedicated to supporting women in film, television and digital industries by providing fellowship and professional development opportunities.” The organization hosts a variety of different events, from mixers to creative workshops, but a recent event that truly stood out was an industry panel featuring Sarah Gilman! Sarah Gilman, an actress known from series such as I Didn’t Do It (2014–2015) and Foursome (2016–Present), recently graduated from USC’s Film and Television Production program. Hosted by Women of Cinematic Arts, Gilman returned to campus for an intimate discussion about her experience balancing life as an actor and a student.
Sick Day/Day-Off Checklist
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Being perfectly honest, I was never one of those people who got perfect attendance. I just couldn’t do it. At some point during the year, I’m either going to come down with something or just completely burn myself out. I’m a believer in breaks sometimes being necessary and that there is nothing wrong with them, but as college students, we do have responsibilities and we can’t just throw them to the wind at every whim. So, before you go ahead and skip that 9AM lecture because you’re feeling a bit off, run through this list and make sure you have all your pieces in place.
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…
Japanese Village Plaza: Snacks Under $5!
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Looking to explore Los Angeles, but not really sure where to go? Check out the Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo! With great scenery, great music, and great food, it’s the perfect place if you’re looking to get off of campus. Simply hop on the expo line right from campus, ride eastbound to 7th St/Metro Center, transfer to the Red/Purple train eastbound to Union Station, transfer one last time to the Gold Line southbound towards Atlantic Station before getting off right at Little Tokyo. From there, use this guide to score some of the best snacks available!