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.

Rounding out the whirlwind of fall break on a dreamy Sunday afternoon, a trio of music industry students, Girls Who Cry, hosted, For the Girls, Gays and Theys charity concert at Tommy’s Place.

Ahhh… that time of year strikes again. You’re balancing flu season, football tailgates, DoorDash fees, and, of course, all your classes that seem to have midterms that land in a two-day period. Although you can’t change your unfortunate testing schedule, here are some ways to live, laugh, and love through this nail-biting, anxiety-inducing, and heart rate spiking few weeks.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

I left The Broad feeling inspired, excited, and giddy about art. As a writer, not a visual artist, I still felt the magic of creation transferring from these paintings into my brain and offering inspiration to rededicate myself to my own work. I can see myself returning for many more trips before my time at USC is up, and I couldn’t recommend making the trip to the museum before you leave school as well.

By: Hannah Skinner ‘23

It’s my last semester at USC and the ticking of my undergraduate clock is growing louder. Without the luxury of years ahead, I’ve been thinking about what I want to do (or wish I had done) before I leave. Here’s a senior’s perspective on how to take advantage of everything USC has to offer.

By: Ani Antonyan ‘24

Over the last few weeks, LA has been waffling through unpredictable and uncharacteristic weather. Since the cold is much more bearable when you can dress practically, here’s my recommendations on how to stay warm for less.

By: Nancy Aguilar Sanchez ‘22

Once you finally have the time between classes, exams, and homework to go explore LA, it’s often hard to find activities that are free or affordable. Here’s some inspiration for the next time you want to go out without blowing your budget!

By: Amy Argueta ‘24 (Guest Blogger)

Thanks to USC”s Los Angeles location there are always so many fun things to do and places to visit so I decided to make a small list of them here. Even if you don’t own a car, don’t worry! All of these spots are accessible by walking or taking the metro. So if you ever find yourself wanting to travel around LA on a weekend here are some places you should visit.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

Jade rollers have gone in and out of fashion in the beauty world for years since 2018, but after seeing them in one too many YouTube videos recently, I decided I needed to try out the practice for myself. Aside from the claims it promotes lymphatic drainage and might help contour your face, I thought that the cool roller might just be soothing, so I figured I didn’t have much to lose. So, one day at Whole Foods, I gave in and picked a pink jade roller off the shelf and decided to finally give it a try.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

Growing up, I spent a lot of time in airports during layovers and on planes themselves, but since the pandemic hit, I’ve only been on a plane twice since March of 2020. Since winter break is coming up and it’s time to head home for the holidays, I put together this list of tips to remind myself and all of you of easy ways to make air travel less daunting this holiday season. All of these tips I’ve learned, tested, and used over the years — especially when I have to travel on my own — to help manage the potential chaos an anxiety travel can bring.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

On Saturday, December 4th, I headed down to Goya Studios to attend the Teen Vogue Summit. This outdoor event was half block party and half convention: there were booths from LA brands and vendors, as well as panels and musical performances running on an outdoor stage. I was immediately drawn in by the event advertising a chance to network with other Teen Vogue readers, editors, and panelists as well as receive career advice from Condè Nast recruiters. The event felt full of opportunity and community.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

When I moved to LA, I didn’t know a single person who lived here. I felt isolated and like I was missing out on huge parts of my new city since I would only visit places I could walk to from the USC area. For a long time, I thought I had to wait to make friends to explore LA, and that mindset only made the loneliness I was experiencing when I first moved worse. Eventually, I decided I couldn’t wait around for other people to start having fun and enjoying my new home; through that process, I discovered that I really love exploring on my own! I know so many people are hesitant to venture out by themselves, so I thought I’d share what I’ve learned along the way that might make it feel a bit less daunting. If you want to actually see what it’s like, I also vlogged my trips to Los Feliz and Echo Park and the week I went to Studio City, Hollywood, and the Grove!