How to Create a Mood (Vision) Board for 2021
By: Sydney Henry ‘24
I’m pretty sure we’re all glad that 2020 is nearing its end because this year has been ROUGH!!! I know it’s hard to be optimistic about what positive vibes 2021 might bring for us. So how can you bring that optimism back? Try creating a mood board for 2021 to guide yourself through the changes coming in the new year.
LA Eateries to Support During the Pandemic
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
As health officials work to slow the spread of COVID-19 in Los Angeles, many of the precautions they’re taking are affecting eateries. All restaurants in LA County were forced to close their outdoor dining. It’s important to follow these rules to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, but it’s also important to support local businesses and the people employed there. The best way we can support these small businesses is by ordering take out! Not only is this a safe way to devour delicious food, but it also helps local restaurants stay open. Here’s a list of my favorite eateries in/near LA that you can support!
How to Use Influencers to Kickstart Your Rebrand
By: Sophia Williams ‘22
Let’s face it- social distancing, quarantining and trying to get through a global pandemic has left lots of time for self-reflection. While it can be lonely at times, this period also makes room for everyone’s own personal renaissance! I’ve spent a lot of time this quarantine building my confidence and personal style, so here’s a couple tips I’ve collected for how to kickstart your rebrand and escape from the real world for a bit during quarantine.
10 Essentials for Online School Nobody Told You About
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
As college students, we don’t get those organized back-to-school supplies lists anymore. We often look to the internet or asks friends to see what we need. However, with this semester being a new experience for everybody, it can be hard to find what materials are best to have a successful virtual semester! Luckily, I’m here to help! Here are 10 things I found extremely useful during USC’s 2020 Fall Semester.
A Recap of the First Semester of Freshman Year (Part 2)
By: Sydney Henry ‘24
Welcome to Part 2 of my recap of the first semester of freshman year. Part 2 of this recap is all about discussing how to deal with the mental and emotional toll this semester has taken on everyone. Between the pandemic, attending Zoom University: USC Edition, and dealing with everything else going wrong, it’s a lot. So how do you stay calm and sane with everything going on?
A Recap of the First Semester of Freshman Year (Part 1)
By: Sydney Henry ‘24
All the freshmen, including me, are rejoicing at the fact that this first semester is almost over and a long break is soon to come. But the journey isn’t yet over and we still have a long way to go. There are definitely many moments where I had full on breakdowns and wanted to give up so bad. Between the all-nighters, the lack of social interaction with others, and the frustration at myself for not being able to find the motivation to do anything, I was still able to reflect on this first semester. That reflection has prompted me to share what helped and hurt me academically, so your first or next semester could go much smoother than mine.
Different Ways to Make Friends as an Incoming Freshman
By: Sydney Henry ‘24
So you’ve finally paid your $300 dollar deposit to confirm your enrollment at USC and announced your decision by posting on Instagram on Decision Day, but what now? You check the different USC decision day hashtags and see several people post that they got into USC and decided to attend for the next 4 years. You want to reach out to them, but you don’t know exactly how. That’s where I step in and give you some different way to become friends with these people, whether you’re completely online or on campus.
Power to the People: A Playlist with Voter Resources
By: Celine Vazquez ‘24
The 2020 election is undeniably the most important election in American history. Because of its importance, it’s imperative that we empower people to vote! I made this election playlist that you can jam out to when filling out your ballot at home, or waiting in line at the polls. Along with each song are important voting resources you can use this election! Let’s get voting, USC!
The Fresh Prince and I
By: Justin Negash ‘22
It’s 2008, and I’m eating my injera with chickpeas as fast as I can; scarfing down my dinner so that I’m seated and ready for 7:00. I’m ahead of schedule as the medley of infomercials and local plumbing advertisements bombard my television screen. I needed this; after a long day at school, I yearned to enter the world of Bel-Air and its certified ruler: the Fresh Prince. I’m counting the seconds until 7:00 hits as my family finally gets seated on the living room couch (ableit to much less enthusiasm than myself). 7:00 hits, and the fruits of my labor finally get realized. Finally, the Prince has arrived.
Why You Should Check Out Trojan Talent
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Short answer? To watch some films, listen to music, and check out art. Long answer? It’s a celebration of amazing student work: visual and auditory, scientific and creative — and it deserves more attention! I was pretty shocked when I checked out Trojan Talent for the first time for the sheer fact that there was just so much stuff! To top it off, everything on the site is phenomenal! This platform is a great way to explore the creations of your fellow students and honestly just keep yourself entertained. There’s too much content to tackle it all in one, or even two or three sittings — but even if it’s just a single short film or song, you should definitely check it out! After exploring all that Trojan Talent has to offer, you may even want to submit something yourself!
10 Clubs Anyone Can Still Join Virtually
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Just because we’re online, doesn’t mean we can’t connect — especially in terms of clubs and other activities. The online semester did throw a wrench in things, but a lot of organizations still managed to make it work! Regardless of your major or minor, these are activities that anyone can participate in!
EveryTable: Equality vs. Equity
By: Sophia Pei ‘22
Everytable provides fresh, nutritious food at equitable prices for Los Angeles neighborhoods. Their unique business model fixes prices for their meals at different prices based on the average household income of the community. For example, an EveryTable location in West LA may sell bowls for $8 while the South LA location may have the same bowls for $5 to promote equity and provide food at an affordable cost in LA’s food deserts. Keep reading to learn more!
Making and Ranking Homemade Masks
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Whether or not you’re completely sold on the effectiveness of fabric masks, in many places they are now required whenever going out in public. Right now, masks aren’t the easiest thing to get a hold of, but there’s always another option: Make your own! There are all sorts of tutorials, ranging from ten minutes to sixty, and with all different sorts of styles. All things considered, I thought it would be a good idea to try out some of the most popular designs for myself. The easiest weren’t always the best and the hardest weren’t always the most efficient, but there certainly is one for everyone, regardless of skill.
Dear USC Class of 2020
By: Talia Walters ‘20
I’m not usually a sentimental person, but considering the current situation, I think it calls for a little bit of sentimentality and a short reflection of my 4 years at USC.
Takeaways from the Asia Pacific Virtual Career Fair
By: Ngai Yeung ‘23
An odd and extensive game of corporate speed dating, USC’s semesterly career fairs have always been one of the biggest events on campus. But as all events were moved online this spring, the school continued to host a virtual career fair as well as a smaller, separate one for the Asia Pacific region on April 23rd PDT, the latter of which I attended; here are my takeaways from this novel experience.
Activities To Do w/ Friends Via Zoom
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
As the semester brings itself to an end and some of us still find ourselves distanced from our friends and family, now more than ever, it’s important to get a little creative in the ways we keep in touch. Zoom can be used for a lot more than just classes, and although it may be tempting to just throw it away the first chance you get, it has a lot of other applications. Specifically, ones that could be used to keep in touch with friends! Curious as to what else you could be doing across your camera screen besides dozing off in lectures? Read below!
Why You Don’t Need To Be Super-Productive During a Pandemic
By: Antonia Le ‘22
It feels like from the very moment that COVID-19 forced all of us off-campus and back to our hometowns, there have been articles popping up left and right about how to stay productive during social distancing and what exactly to do when you can’t go outside. In fact, even Trojans 360 has published its fair share of such articles, and that’s great! Having something to do can give you a sense of structure when the world is changing in unprecedented ways. However, because the times are so uncertain, it’s impossible for everyone to be at the top of their game. If you’re feeling bad about not pulling a Shakespeare and writing the next King Lear in quarantine, read onward for a list of reasons why taking a step back is perfectly fine!
Surviving Self-Quarantine With Toxic Roommates/Housemates
By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22
Okay, so, self-quarantine/social distancing can be difficult for a lot of reasons — boredom, fear, loneliness — but can especially difficult if you are cooped up with the wrong sort people. You know, the kind that play loud music in the middle of the night, don’t clean up after themselves, and try to get under your skin at every turn. Trust me, I get it. The first step should always be to talk about it, to see if there’s any sort of resolution that could be reached. Suggest solutions, use “I” statements, and be direct. Sometimes it works, sometimes it doesn’t — but if it’s the latter, that doesn’t mean it’s completely hopeless. Even if the person you’re rooming with is a stubborn as a brick, you can still retain some semblance of control over yourself and your sanity, despite who may be around you.
Virtual Weekend Activities
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
I don’t have to tell you that the 9-0 is closed. There are no parties on the row to attend, no basketball games to frolic to, and sadly, we can’t watch movies with friends or take a trip to the beach. In place of in-person fun, I’ve combed the internet for some cool virtual events to attend this weekend!