The end of the semester is looming. For seniors, job offers — or lack thereof — are only adding to the stress of a life-changing couple of months. As USC students, we have the privilege of studying in one of the world’s most renowned cities. But do students want to stay in LA after they graduate?

My first year at USC was a hazy blur. The highs were high and the lows were low, to say the least. My biggest struggle was adjusting to life in a place very different from my small Illinois hometown. My classes at USC were difficult, and there was immense pressure to fit in. There were so many moments that year when I would go out to a social event – be it a party, club, or wherever everyone else was going – and leave the night feeling horrible about myself. Though I wasn’t able to admit it at the time, I was forcing myself to be someone I simply wasn’t. While I was changing and growing as a product of my new environment, the positive aspects were getting lost behind the mask I felt I had to present to those around me.

Latinx/e Heritage Month, observed between September 15 and October 15, is a time to commemorate the rich history, vibrant culture, and significant contributions of the Latinx/e and Hispanic communities in the United States.

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: Joshen Mantai ‘24 (USC Student Life Guest Blogger)

When I first got to USC as a graduate student at Annenberg, I didn’t know what to expect for my experience, especially at a university in the middle of such a big city. Would it be like my undergraduate experience at UC Santa Barbara, or did I have to prepare myself for a whole new environment with a separate identity? So, for any incoming or current graduate students, I’m sharing what I’ve learned through my first semester experience so far.

By: Dara Udobong ‘23

Its already been more than 2 months since our return to campus, but honestly, it still feels surreal to be back. With a year and a half away from the great Tommy Trojan himself, 2 graduating classes fresh out of high school, and a new-found appreciation for life itself, everyone seems to be diving headfirst into getting the college experience.

By: Dara Udobong ‘23

It might just be October, but I already feel like we’ve been at this for ages. Can we attribute this mid-term fatigue to their namesake exams? Or is it more of a heavier transition from online school to being in-person again? Either ways, old or new, senior or freshman, this semester has been a huge learning curve for all of us, so here are a couple of ways we think you could make this break live up to its name:

By: Dara Udobong ‘23

I started my USC journey back in Fall 2019. I had almost no idea what to expect: I’d only been to LA once before, barely knew if I was even ready to do this whole school thing again (after the most restful gap-year experience ever), and knew almost no one that was starting at USC in my grade. People from my high school rarely (if ever) came all the way out to the West Coast simply because it’s too far away from home, so I already felt like a fish out of water from the jump.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

This probably isn’t the best year to go about celebrating Halloween like the years of past, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you can’t get the holiday spirit! Whether you have younger siblings or are holed up with roommates somewhere, you can have just as much fun indoors as you can anywhere else!

By: Claire Wong ‘23

Being admitted into my *dream school* was unbelievable and I was ecstatic to be living in Los Angeles at the best Film School in the country. Unfortunately COVID-19 ended it surprisingly early, but my freshman year met so many different expectations and helped me grow as an individual in ways I never anticipated. Here are just a few of the main takeaways I learned from my freshman year at USC!

By: Karla Leung ‘22

If you’re a broke college student who wants to shop, thrift stores are the way to go. Not only can you find super cool items, but you can save both money and the environment.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

If you hadn’t heard already, USC is implementing fall break this year! Essentially, we have a 4 day weekend starting on Thursday Oct. 17th. Here are some fun last-minute ideas for fall break. Don’t like planning outings? No worries, I’ve done the planning for you! I’ve listed four days worth of day trips to different locations in LA. For each destination, I’ve covered the basics of transportation, my favorite food places (one meal, one dessert/snack), and a fun activity. Keep reading for a detailed itinerary.