By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Many people have compared the presidential election debates this year to reality television.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Last Saturday, as part of the USC Comedy Festival, Vol 3: The Changing Face of Comedy, I attended a Women in Comedy panel featuring Maria Bamford (Lady Dynamite), Nicole Byer (Loosely Exactly Nicole), Cameron Esposito (Take My Wife), and Suzanne Todd (Bad Moms). These comedy creators are writing their own material, starring in their own shows, and creating hilarious original content telling unique stories worth telling.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

On Tuesday, the Sol Price Center for Social Innovation hosted a social innovation seminar called “Delicious Social Innovation” with representatives from 5000 Pies, With Love Market and Café, and Everytable.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

If you’re anything like me, you are pretty pumped to have access to the Spring 2017 schedule of courses. There’s just so much potential and so many courses to choose from; my roommate and I were literally counting down the days before its release two weeks ago. Even if you’re not quite on our level of excitement, I want to make sure you’re aware of the amazing 2-unit courses available to you, regardless of your major. The Courses of Interest page conveniently details courses chosen by the designated departments for students who are not majoring in that particular subject but who might find them enjoyable and beneficial. Nothing like being well-rounded and multi-interested, am I right?

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Last Tuesday Rebeca Lane, dubbed “one of the fiercest voices of Latin American hip hop”, spoke to a captivated audience in Bovard, answered questions (in Spanish and English), and performed some of her powerful raps in an event arranged by USC Visions & Voices titled, “Somos Guerreras: Feminism, Hip Hop, and Guatemala.” She was interviewed by fellow musician, Maya Jupiter (pictured below) to start the conversation and performed with DJ Francesca Harding, who is also immensely talented. My little brother, Nick (Class of 2020) and I were among the many in attendance looking to learn more about Rebeca Lane, hear some of her latest music, and get an inside-look at her form of “artivism”.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

If you find yourself trying to evade this question, though it comes up quite often when you’re a senior, know you’re not alone. It’s not too late to take some steps down the path well-traveled, the career path. The Career Center is chockfull of wonderful resources that can help you wherever you may be in your journey. If I could go back in time I would’ve been a regular in their office starting my freshman year. But hindsight is 20/20, as they say, so all I can do now is soak up all their advice and knowledge and connections before I graduate in May and encourage my brother (class of 2020) to check it out much earlier.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Recently, a student asked your hardworking friends at Trojans 360 to create a guide to USC’s libraries and I have volunteered my services for the task. As it turns out, there a lot more libraries available to met than I ever realized. If you want more information about the hours of these libraries or the services available, the USC library website has a whole lot of info.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

If you still have space for 2 more units in your schedule, look no further. The department chairs of a number of programs make a list every semester of “Courses of Interest” for students who aren’t majoring in the field but might find them enjoyable and beneficial for one reason or another. I myself have already taken 3 off this list, all in the film school, and promptly realized I wanted to minor in Screenwriting as a result. So maybe this will help shape your major/minor decision making process or future career goals or maybe you’ll just have a really interesting 2 unit course this semester and that’s perfectly valid, too! Whatever the case may be, I’ve taken the liberty of choosing the FIVE COOLEST 2-UNIT COURSES this fall and have listed the rest below, as well, if you don’t trust me or your tastes differ.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

If you have extra room in your schedule, want to add a 1 or 2 unit course, and/or want to learn a new skill and stay fit in the process, look no further than the PHED department! There are 23 Physical Education courses being offered this Fall 2016, so you’re sure to find one that fits amidst your other courses, no matter how busy you may be.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

The first lesson is that almost every word that has an S or a C is “Trojanized” to have both and you shouldn’t fight it, but rather laugh and promptly accept it. Soon you’ll be doing it, too. I’m writing this post for my biological brother but since we’re all Trojan Family, the whole class of 2020 is more than welcome to my unsolicited sisterly wisdom. As a rising senior, I’m practically of a different generation than you young folks and my life experience is worth its weight in gold. I would give my right arm (dominant hand and objectively a critical component of my “good side”) to be able to have 4 more years of college like you young grasshoppers get to, especially if I could relive it knowing all I know now. In preparation for writing this letter I looked through my old photos from 2013-2014 (a simpler time) and can’t even believe how good we had it/have it at USC.

Best: Grace Carballo ‘17

Hey! Thanks so much for your questions; it’s definitely one I was asking myself just three short years ago. There’s a lot of options for fitness on campus and it really just depends on what you’re interested in!