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
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My experience being the director of the SCIA Culture Show!
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
On March 24th, my friend Amirta Srinivas and I co-directed and hosted the annual SCIA culture show at Bovard Auditorium. SCIA’s annual culture show highlights South Asian talent on campus and gives them a platform to showcase South Asian dance forms and music styles. As a member of the SCIA E-board, I was involved in marketing the show last year. Despite that, I had no idea what planning and managing the show entailed. Due to the show’s increasing popularity and the expansion of South Asian talent on campus this year, I stepped as co-director to help take on a more ambitious event.
My experience as a staff writer for Descent Magazine
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
Are you a person who identifies as APIDA (Asian Pacific Isander Desi-American)? Do you enjoy writing prose/poetry or dabble in the arts? Well, Descent Magazine is made for you! I joined Descent as a staff writer at the beginning of last semester. I’ve always enjoyed writing poetry and prose, and I always aspired to be a published writer. As a journalism major in college, however, I felt myself quickly getting jaded with the staccato of AP style writing and was craving for an outlet for creative writing. Descent has filled that void for me.
My experience attending “An evening with Nikole Hannah-Jones” at Bovard
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
On February 21, I attended An Evening with Nikole Hannah-Jones, creator of ‘The 1619 Project’ at the Bovard Auditorium. Being able to attend this event and listen to Nikole Hannah Jones felt like a dream come true—for young journalists and women of color, Jones is a beacon of hope and inspiration for those who seek to shatter glass ceilings and create new legacies for generations to come.
Spotlighting Girl Up USC and Q&A with GirlUpUSC President Rumaisa Islam!
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
Founded in 2010 by the United Nations Foundation, Girl Up is a girl-centered leadership development initiative focusing on equity for girls and women in underrepresented spaces. I first learned about Girl Up through my friend Rumaisa Islam, who coincidentally happens to be the president of the USC chapter this year. I recently got the chance to sit down with Islam to learn more about the organization:
What I Wish I Knew As A Journalism Major at USC
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
If you’re a journalism major and you’re feeling super overwhelmed and thinking about changing your major, but still like journalism - don’t worry we have literally all been there. My journalism friends and I can all attest to our second year being our “weeder” year — most of us were at difficult crossroads in deciding whether to continue in the major or not. If you feel the same way, don’t worry, I got you! Here are some tips for getting through your second year as a journalism student:
My Experience with Journalism and Audience (J-323) and why I recommend you take it!
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
If you’ve wanted to create your own podcast, YouTube channel, or online product and you’ve never felt confident or comfortable enough to, USC has the perfect elective to finally launch your dream project. All I knew was that I needed a 2 unit journalism elective course—I had no idea how impactful and important this class would be for me as a journalism student.
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!
Desi @ USC: How to stay involved in your culture
By: Tamanna Sood ’24
As a freshman, the main organization you might be hearing about is APASA, [but] APASA bears the burden of representing a lot of communities and groups a lot of experiences together. Here’s a list of clubs that might offer more of the nuanced and personal experiences you’re looking for:
My Experience as SCIA’s Director of Marketing
By: Tamanna Sood ‘24
One of my favorite orgs that I chose to be a part of this year was USC’S SCIA (Southern California Indo-Americans). I applied to be on E-board as on a whim at the beginning of the semester because I wanted to join a club that would connect me to my culture.