My Time at USC in 10 photos
By KAYLEE E.
If I could take one item with me to a deserted island, it would be my digital camera. After my (almost) two years at USC, my camera roll houses 11,152 videos and pictures of my favorite memories, my day-to-day routine and everything in between.
In no particular order, here is my time at USC, in photos🎞️:
1. USC Wrigley Catalina Island Spring Break Trip
As I type this blog post, I’m sitting outside at the beautiful Catalina Island, immersed in a beautiful spring break program. Under the direction of the USC Wrigley Marine Science Center, my days are filled with kayaking, snorkeling, hiking and an escape from the Southern California heat wave. Definitely one of the top three coolest side quests I’ve had in my time at USC!
2. Springfest ft. Don Toliver & Lyn Lapid
USC Concert Committee’s annual Springfest concert knocked it out of the park in 2025, bringing Don Toliver and Lyn Lapid to the L.A. Coliseum, free with registration on engageSC. They even had guest tickets available and I was able to bring one my best friends from high school, avid concert-goer Chloe Chui!
3. Class of 2025 Main Commencement Ceremony
Speaking of bringing celebrities to the L.A. Coliseum, 2025’s Commencement Ceremony featured Jon M. Chu, director of “Wicked” (2024). My own personal celebrity, though, was USC Annenberg’s own journalism graduate, Justin Li, also a previous Annenberg Ambassador!
4. Annenberg Media Dodger’s Parade coverage
As a journalist myself, one of the coolest things I’ve covered is the Dodgers World Series Parade. I woke up on a Monday morning expecting to go to another normal shift in the media center, but left that day with an awesome solo byline, a trip to DTLA via metro and an unforgettable scooter adventure.
5. “SIX: The Musical” at Walt Disney Concert Hall
[photo credit: Ben Chua]
Halfway into the post and I haven’t even talked about my largest commitment at USC: the Trojan Marching Band! In Spring 2025, I had the opportunity to perform with the USC Concert Band on flute, where we put on “SIX: The Musical” in collaboration with the School of Dramatic Arts. Our surprise encore concert the summer after ended up being at the Walt Disney Concert Hall, my dream performance venue since I began music. The room was pretty cool, but this action shot might be even cooler!
6. Snoop Dogg Gig
Keeping on the TMB theme, I picked up a new instrument when I joined the band and spent my first semester learning how to play trombone. Beyond playing at football games, the public can also hire a small portion of the band for miscellaneous (paid!) gigs. My very first gig was ominously called a “super secret celebrity gig,” and I ended up marching into the TCC Ballroom playing “Still D.R.E.” to find Snoop Dogg on stage!
7. Lucky Energy Campus Ambassador
For three long months in Fall 2025, I served as USC’s campus ambassador for Lucky Energy, an up-and-coming energy drink brand. While you’re at USC, this is a great opportunity to take advantage of campus ambassadorships while you’re still a student. This opportunity definitely also joins the list for top three coolest USC side quests, and my apartment is still stalked full of the drink to this day.
8. Camp Kesem Counselor Retreat
The most impactful thing I joined was USC’s chapter of Camp Kesem, a summer camp for kids impacted by a parent’s cancer. This photo was a combination of so many parts of my time thus far at USC: the freshman class of counselors getting their photo taken by the girl I had met through a sorority coffee chat. Bonus: the guy in the jersey looking at us in the back was the one who got me to apply, a snare drummer in the TMB!
9. Orientation Leader Summer
[photo credit: Henry Kofman]
A great way to stay on campus over the summer is to be an orientation leader! For a social butterfly filled with USC spirit, this job was perfect for me, especially as my first ever job. My cohort became so close and all hundreds of my kids were so amazing. Shoutout Simeon, my awesome sOLmate #TeamConquest4Life
10. My Wonderful Freshman Class ❤️💛
Finding community is one of the most important things during your time at USC, and I’m lucky enough to end this article highlighting my amazing freshman class of trombones. They were the first people I ever met here, and we spent an entire marching season growing closer. Even though I’m not in the same section anymore, I still talk to all of them and can’t wait to see them all at my wedding one day!
