No matter what year you’re in, deciding where to live for the upcoming school year is always a daunting task. Whether it’s deciding to live on or off campus, finding something within your budget, or looking for suitable roommates, there are so many factors to consider in choosing a living situation. But, as incoming freshmen, it can be especially challenging. Before setting foot on campus, first-years have so much to learn, and understanding housing options is one of the first major steps into acclimating to college life.

A trip away from USC was in the cards for me this Spring Break, and I was lucky enough to travel to Delray Beach, Florida. My friend Anthony calls it home and invited a group of our friends to come stay with him for the week. If you ever find yourself in Delray Beach, here are some exciting attractions and relaxing spots to visit during your stay.

One of my favorite things to do in LA is try new restaurants. One of the unique parts of this city is how it’s home to a diverse array of eateries. Recently, my friend Branden Mendez took me to Kura Revolving Sushi Bar for the first time.

When I’m looking for something to do over the weekend but have trouble deciding, a beach day is always in the cards. Recently, my friends and I were looking to go to the beach but had already been to Santa Monica multiple times before. Searching for somewhere new, we decided to take our first trip to Manhattan Beach.

If you’re looking for a good laugh, USC’s got you covered. Our institution’s ever-expanding comedy scene is one of the standout parts of the university, which hosts a plethora of sketch comedy, improv, and stand-up groups. Among these is the brand-new 3/5 Comedy, founded by Black students as an effort to uplift and promote underrepresented voices in comedy circles.

Have you ever come across an interesting class during registration but felt unsure if you wanted to take it? USC has a wide array of electives to choose from, and many of them have attention-grabbing names. But, sometimes, there’s a little voice in the back of my head that gives me doubts on whether or not I should take that class. We’ve all been here before, but I’m here to tell you that you should always give the class a try.

After being out of school for almost a month, settling back into classes is no easy feat. But, it was a much needed break, and for me, a very exciting one. My family took a two-week trip to Ireland to visit our extended family for Christmas. All of my grandparents, cousins, aunts, and uncles live in Dublin — the capital city of Ireland — and it’s always special when we get to go back.

Every semester, the USC School of Dramatic Arts puts on a variety of performances. During the first two weeks of November, they ran a production of Hit the Wall, which I was lucky enough to attend. The play follows multiple perspectives during the night of the Stonewall Uprising in the summer of 1969. Anthony Guerrise, a sophomore who played Newbie during the second week of performances, sat down with me to talk about his experience.

It’s that dreaded time of the semester again. As classes draw to a close and many of us book our tickets home for Thanksgiving, there’s one thing in the back of everyone’s minds — finals. During this period, it’s natural to feel stressed, overwhelmed, and agonized by the amount of work professors expect us to do in such a short amount of time. Hearing the same four study tips certainly doesn’t help.

One of the most unique things about USC is its ability to draw in students not just from California but from the rest of the United States and beyond. I happen to be one of those individuals. Aside from spending a few formative years in the Netherlands, I grew up in Portland, Oregon. Although it seems just a hop, a skip, and a jump away from Los Angeles, moving to an entirely different environment has made it feel like I’m living a thousand miles away.

I think many people can relate to the idea that a single thing about them ends up becoming their defining trait. Before coming to USC, for me, that was having a twin brother.