“Make the most out of your senior year by truly living it,” is what I’d tell my senior year, pre-college self. Throughout that period of time, I became so hyper focused on doing everything I possibly could to get into college: taking all AP courses, doing a sport and immersing myself in a wide array of extracurriculars. The hard work definitely paid off, but I realized later that I probably did not have to toil as much as I did to get into USC. This is not to say you can slack off on your classes; rather, enjoy every “last” that you’ll get to experience with your childhood friends: homecoming, prom, sleepovers, movie nights, the list goes on. You will get into college –– your mental health and final high school moments should not have to be sacrificed at the expense of making that transcript flawless.
Reflecting on the last couple years at USC, there are definitely a few insights I would share with my pre-college self:
Go to the Annenberg Involvement Fair and the Fall/Spring Involvement Fairs! I truly started enjoying college when I got involved with various organizations around campus. Daily Trojan, Annenberg Cross-Cultural Student Association (ACCSA), Peaks and Professors and Annenberg Ambassadors have provided me with the most supportive, fun and welcoming communities. It’s really helpful to speak with students from various organizations at the involvement fairs so you can gain an understanding of what their experiences have been like and decide on which clubs align most with your interests/passions.
Make those connections with your professors. The classes in which I actively participate, ask questions, attend office hours and genuinely get to know my professors are the ones I not only get the best grades in but are also the ones I enjoy the most. Professors truly love talking with their students, especially Annenberg faculty, so they are ecstatic when they don’t have to sit in their office or Zoom room alone during office hours.
Get out of your comfort zone! With ACCSA, I was honestly quite shy at first but I really identified with the organization’s mission, so I began to speak up during meetings. Miki Turner, the faculty advisor, wholeheartedly supported me as I launched a podcast and directed a short documentary (both things I had zero experience with but dived into anyways). This is the true beauty of Annenberg to me: We are a community full of creators and changemakers who all foster and encourage each other’s passions. If you want to do something that’s out of your comfort zone, I guarantee that there will be peers and professors who will rally behind you.
Live on campus during your freshman and sophomore years! I didn’t live in a freshman dorm due to COVID-19, but my sister did and that’s where she met all of her best friends. During my sophomore year, I lived in Cowlings and Ilium in the Village which was the starting point of the most incredible friendships I could ever ask for. When you live on-campus, you are required to choose some form of a meal plan. In my opinion, we are really lucky with the food we get here. Breakfast tends to be the best at Everybody’s Kitchen (EVK) and lunch and dinner are consistently the best at Parkside. However, Parkside can be a further walk for some people, so the Village dining hall is another good option. All of the food is labeled so if you have any dietary restrictions (gluten free, vegetarian/vegan, etc.), you’ll be able to clearly know what to eat and there are options for you! And if you are able to, get a meal plan that includes dining dollars so you can use them at our various cafes/coffee shops and Tutor Campus Center (TCC)! This is where you’ll arguably get some of the best food on campus.
Go to football games and other sporting events throughout the school year! Even if you’re not a huge sports fan, these are still really fun to go to and are central to the USC experience. There is something so exhilarating about getting dressed up in your USC gear and packing into a stadium with all of your peers to cheer on our fellow Trojans.
I could talk about USC all day, but I’ll leave you with this: Live each day of the rest of your senior year to its fullest. We can’t wait to have you join the Trojan family; fight on!
