By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

As a journalism major and a citizen who likes to stay informed, I’m one of the first people to rush to its defense when both the government and the public criticize media. Like it or not, journalists do hard work that should be valued as both an art and a technical skill. I don’t think it was until I came to USC and got involved in my passion for reporting and writing that I realized how important news media is. That is not to say, however, that the industry (like all other industries) doesn’t have flaws. In this blog post I want to touch on journalism’s merits, its history, and maybe help give you a less negative perception of media.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

After having the privilege of a full meal plan with unlimited swipes each semester, I can say without a doubt that the dining halls were vital to my survival as a college student. EVK, especially, has a special place in my heart for nighttime munchies and all my ill-timed snack and coffee breaks. However, there’s no denying that some things need to be updated or improved.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

Now that freshman year is winding down to an end, I want to take a minute to reflect. The transition from high school to college is unique — it’s a time of intense change, exploration, discovery, and growth. If you had an experience that was anything like mine, it may have resembled Kylie’s 2016 resolutions.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

Music makes the world go round. For when you’re stressed and just want to relax, for when you’re sad and just want to simp, or for when you want to work out and get motivated — music helps with it all. It’s universal and inspiring. I have compiled a list of artists for every occasion — from parties to study sessions — and ones you should be on the lookout for 2019.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

For self-care purposes, obviously. I don’t know about you, but for me, Netflix is on par with therapy (okay, maybe that’s an overstatement). However, I can recall turning to Netflix for help any time I was upset, overwhelmed, angry, or felt any other negative emotion. Not only do I believe that taking your mind off of things by watching TV is stress-relieving, but I also believe media, movies, and shows can enrich your mind. Especially nowadays, more and more movies offer political and social commentary on important topics and present themes which were previously left untouched. So, without further ado, in the name of self-care and college student survival tips, I present to you my comprehensive list of the most binge-worthy shows and movies to watch on Netflix.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

As we all know, college is expensive. Extremely and unnecessarily so (but that’s a topic for another blog post). If you’re anything like me, the enormous cost of college, basic necessities, and also extra fun expenditures are always on your mind. Stressing out over money, budgeting, and if you can afford certain things is not only detrimental mentally, but it’s also distracting from studies and extracurricular activities. I wanted to provide a conclusive list of ways to make money that are feasible and accessible for college students, regardless of their year or experience. Contrary to popular belief, there are plenty of ways to make money as a college student. You just have to look for them! Hopefully, this post can help ease some worries and give you a look into how simple it can be to get that bread and secure the bag($).

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

I was recently moved to make this post because of an experience in my personal life concerning relationships. Without going into too much sensitive detail, I cared about a person who did not reciprocate my same feelings. They led me on and, in the end, I felt a whirlwind of overwhelming emotions that I could not shake for a long time — frustration, anger, sadness, betrayal, even stupidity. I felt cheated, discarded, naive, especially since this was my first attempt at a romantic relationship. I wanted to make this blog post to help others who may be in the same position, who are struggling to get over a friendship or relationship with a toxic person or who need a little help practicing self-love in getting rid of people in their lives that only spread negativity.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

As an intersectional feminist, I love going to events around campus which feature panels of successful and powerful women. I’ve seen Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie being honored, Roxane Gay and Amanda Nguyen tackling the pervasive problem of sexual assault, Grammy-nominee artists TOKiMONSTA and Cam discussing the lack of gender parity in the music industry, Sandra Bland’s sister calling for police accountability, and much more. All these events uplift women and give them a space to talk about the struggles they face not only as women but also within the intersections of race, sexuality, and class. While these events on campus are phenomenal and I am grateful for the plethora of opportunities available at USC to engage in thoughtful discussions about activism and social change, I feel that engagement on a mass scale is lacking.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

We all know the struggle of trying to look good in college, especially when we’re low on funds and can’t afford Sephora brand products. I’m here to let you know that there are good makeup and skincare products that are effective, inclusive, and cheap! Here’s a go-to guide on affordable makeup when you’re balling on a budget.

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

Let me paint a familiar picture. It’s midterm season and you’re spending all your available hours and sanity on studying. You’re stressed beyond belief, but in a week or two the worst will be over. That is, until you get hit with the common cold. Or something in your personal life goes horribly wrong. Or you realize you spread yourself way too thin. Your first thought is “Are you kidding me?” and it’s closely followed by “That’s just my luck.” But I’m here to tell you that it’s not the end of the world. Even if you feel like death now, and everything feels like it’s coming crashing down, here are a couple things you can do to give yourself a break and push through this trying time: