The Weekender!
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
Last weekend, I and a few friends headed up North to the San Francisco Bay Area to what is the annual pilgrimage for many USC students – The Weekender. This year it was Stanford’s turn to host the USC Trojans for a PAC-12 footballing showdown.
USC Own It
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
Last Saturday, September 24, I had the privilege of attending the inaugural USC Own It women’s leadership summit. Luckily as soon as I heard about it a few weeks ago, I booked my spot immediately, because tickets eventually sold out. To give you an idea of the scale of all this, over 450 students and 65 speakers attended. Own It was started by two Georgetown students in 2013, with the first summit taking place in 2014 and being so successful that it expanded nationwide. The Own It network now encompasses 8 universities including USC, and we are certainly in good company.
The Young Turks films at USC!
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
The Young Turks, a progressive left-leaning political commentary web show filmed live on campus this last Monday, the 12th of September. Filming occurred at the new Annenberg building atrium. The show has erupted online over the years as they address issues not given airtime by the mainstream news media. The panel featured Cenk Uygur (the founder of TYT), Nando Vila (Vice President of Programming of Fusion TV). The show was hosted by Ana Kasparian along John Iadarola.
A Triumphant Return to Campus
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
My friends keep asking me if it’s weird to return to USC after two semesters and a summer program abroad and the answer is a resounding “Yes!” A lot of other folks who were abroad have had similar experiences of reverse culture shock. I saw a line down the bookstore steps and decided to order my textbooks online only to discover later that my peers were in fact waiting for $6 cupcakes to be dispensed from an ATM.
USC Involvement Fair Roundup
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
Didn’t get a chance to attend the USC Involvement Fair? No problem, here’s a helpful guide to give you a glimpse of the hundreds of clubs found on campus.
Sign me up!
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
Campuses across the country recognize that extracurricular involvement increases student retention; basically, students are much more likely to continue their higher education at institutions where they feel a sense of belonging and purpose. To find smaller communities within our huge student body, to pursue new and exciting interests, to get to know new and different people, or to find people with similar beliefs - there’s no end to the reasons to get involved at USC.
Summer Reading: Notes from the Cafe
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
With just three weeks remaining before classes start, you may find yourself with very little free time as you finish your summer internships or jobs and start thinking about and preparing for move-in day at USC. But if you find yourself with time to spare, now might be a good time to check out the summer reading list President Nikias proposed last spring as our beautiful campus once again hosted the Los Angeles Festival of Books.
Problems without Passports in China
By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19
There is something about being abroad - whether it’s for a few days or a few months - that changes the way you view the world. It’s the new sights, sounds, smells, and experiences you encounter every moment that stick with you and constantly remind you that there is always more to explore.
Sun’s Out Buns Out: How to Beat the Heat in LA
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
For one, go to The Beach! A fast cure from the summer heat is a trip to the beach! Check out my blg post West Coast Best Coast for the 6 Must-Visit Beaches in sunny California. I love taking a self-care day and heading to the beach with my girls. Whether you simply want to lay out and soak in the sunshine or take a dip in the ocean here are some of the things you can do at the beach.
Meet New Blogger, Anna
By: Anna Lipscomb ‘19
Hello everyone! My name is Anna, and I’m double majoring in International Relations and East Asian Languages & Culture (emphasis on China).
West Coast Best Coast: 6 Beaches You Need To Visit
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
Sometimes we forget how spoiled we are to bask in Califronia’s perfect weather. Albeit it can be drastic at times, for the most part the California sunshine never dissapoints. Here are the top 8 West Coast beaches you need to visit.
USC Fashion Blogger Taylor Jean Gorski
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
For some people picking out an outfit can seem like a bore but for Journalism major and fashion blogger Taylor Jean, it is a form of art to express yourself. From fashion advice for students on the go to major trend spotting at this year’s Coachella read more about Taylor’s fashionable advice below in a one on one Q & A with the fashionista.
8 Instagram Worthy Photo Ops in LA
By: Samantha Romero ‘16
You’ve seen them in your feed posted by some of your favorite bloggers but now here’s your chance to grab some friends and roadtrip across the city to snap away at some of the most popular Instagram worthy photo locations.
The Beauty of Jujuy (And The Best Study Abroad Apps!)
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
It’s important that you know, both for accuracy of pronunciation and the sake of the rhyme scheme that Jujuy is pronounced “Hoo-hooey”. And our road-trip through the northern part of this province in Argentina was nothing short of breathtaking.
Let’s Talk Culture: Who’s paying the bill?
By: Ayman Siraj ‘18
The biggest fear for any international student coming to the U.S. for the first time is not being able to adapt to U.S. culture. It’s true that cultures are different as you transgress borders. When I was learning English, I was at a British School in Saudi Arabia and it led to a few funny encounters with my friends here in America. One such instance: My friend Tim and I went grocery shopping and I was like, ‘Tim, should I grab a trolley?’ Tim burst out laughing, and I didn’t understand why. He responded that it’s called a shopping cart here. While I wasn’t wrong, Tim and I at that moment realized that even though we speak the same language, there are subtle differences in word usage between different countries.
6 Reasons to Do Things Alone
By: Kelly Kinas ‘16
Alone. Let’s just remember that alone is not the same as lonely. I can choose to do things alone but that longing feeling to be with others but not actually being with them is being lonely. I love my support system: my friends, my family, people I talk to in line at Starbucks, everyone in my life. I could not be the person I am today without them. Additionally, I could not be who I am today without me. Knowing yourself and spending time alone is healthy and something everyone should do. Here are so reasons why I think it’s important to do things by yourself sometimes. Read on!
Meet Jamie Wu
By: Jamie Wu ‘18
Hey friends! My name is Jamie and I’m a sophomore studying Industrial and Systems Engineering.
Gracefully Abroad in Salta, Argentina
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
While all of my USC counterparts are on the homestretch with finals week and the finish line of summer within sight, here in Argentina we are just starting midterms. What a time to be alive!
Gracefully Abroad: El Chalten
By: Grace Carballo ‘17
After Perrito Moreno and our short stay in Calafate, Francesca and I hopped on a 3 hour bus to get to El Chalten. We lucked out and were assigned the best seats, front row with a view that couldn’t be beat, but unfortunately a couple nabbed what was rightfully ours and we didn’t have the heart to ask them to move.
7 Podcasts to Get You Through Your Trip Home
By: Kelly Kinas ‘16
Finals week has started and that means most of USC will be heading back home or to wherever their internships/jobs take them. That may be by plane, train, or automobile but no matter how you get there, you will need to be entertained along the way. I am here to offer some amazing Podcasts suggestions so you don’t have to listen to Life of Pablo or Views again. These are interesting, entertaining and most episodes are about 45 minutes long. Give them a listen and make your next trip go by even faster!