By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

You may have heard of vegetarian and vegan diets. But what the heck is raw vegan? Let me explain. Raw veganism is a diet in which you don’t eat any meat or dairy products, and you don’t eat anything cooked. So what do you eat, you may ask? Fruits, vegetables, nuts, seeds, and sprouts. “Why would you do this to yourself?” This was a question my friends asked of me many times. My plan was actually to eat raw vegan for two weeks, and I wanted to do it as a sort of cleanse, so that I could have a fresh, healthy start for the new year. Except, two weeks didn’t really work out for me… But, we’ll get to that later. My goal for this raw vegan journey was to eat super fresh foods, cleanse my body, and maybe have glowing skin and silky hair by the end of it. Since I have a meal plan (and also for experiment’s sake), I planned to exclusively eat food from the dining hall. So, let’s begin!

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

Okay, I’m going to be real. When I tell people that I love to read, I often hear in response, “Oh, I do too. I just don’t have any time to read.” Which I think is a terrible excuse. (Sorry if that was the excuse you were going to use too.) But I just find a statement like that patently false. Because if you really love something, and you truly enjoy it, you would make time for it. So, just be honest: You don’t like reading all that much, so, in your free time, you’re watching Netflix. You say: No, no, no! You’ve got it all wrong! You say: I love to read. Really. I do. But after studying all day, Netflix is just the easiest way to relax. If I didn’t have to do so much reading for class, I would read for pleasure too, honest. Alright, sure. I believe you. But, I propose a challenge for you. I want to challenge you to make time to do something you love this week.

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

When you go abroad, you’ll start to hear all the usual jokes about the “Abroad 15.” And to be honest, you might put on a pound or two. I mean, let’s face it, there’s a whole world of new foods to try. But that doesn’t mean you should completely let yourself go. Here are some tips to stay healthy, physically and mentally, while abroad.

By: Fred Akau ‘20

After those seemingly endless years of high school, craving for that BIG next-step towards a new life of experience, opportunity, and (quite honestly) some fun, college has finally arrived. The long-awaited “best years of your life” have manifested themselves into that pretty sleek-looking, cardinal & gold, U-S-C acceptance packet. There is a tangible excitement when imagining the infinite paths your life can take; how, for what seems like the first time, you are in full control of what that path is. But, alas, that initial excitement now seems to have simmered down, and many of us are simply left confused, lost, and horribly indecisive. The endless list of opportunity that we once sought after has now turned into an endless series of difficult choices, a persistent frustration in deciding: “What the heck do I want?”

By: Talia Walters ‘20

In the face of recent events both on and off campus, it is necessary that we open the conversation about Sexual Violence not only with our administration but also with each other. The problem is pervasive and growing. Among all undergraduate students on college campuses, 23.1% of females and 5.4% of males experience sexual assault or rape. Instead of focusing on the negative aspects of the conversation surrounding sexual assault, I’d like to instead focus on the resources and advocacy groups available to USC students. While justice and retribution is necessary, conversations with a focus on healing and prevention often get pushed to the wayside despite being an important aspect for many assault survivors. Below is a compiled list of resources depending on your situation. It is important to remember that assault can happen to anyone; these resources are available to you regardless of gender, sexual orientation, and experience, so please reach out if you feel as though it may be helpful.

By: Amy Wang ‘21

Many of us come to USC previously as some of the top students at our high school. We were the school presidents, the editors-in-chief, and the honor students. But when you gather all the great students and put them in one place, we are no longer the big fish, but rather one of many fish in a large pond. I was not spectacular in high school, but I definitely worked hard. I pushed myself to my limits, ate late, slept later if I slept at all. I came to USC expecting myself to and actually trying to do the same. I would say I achieved my goal my freshman year for the most part. And because I survived, I decided to try again my sophomore year this semester. The results… I crashed and burned, literally.

By: Alexis Peters ‘20

I am not a dancer. I mean, I took ballet for a few years when I was 10, and a couple of tap classes, but that was about it. I am the girl with a teensy bit of rhythm (meaning maaaaaaybe I can shake my hips at a dance party) but I’m mostly awkward flailing limbs. However, this semester I decided to take an elective dance class.

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

“Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.” We’ve all heard this since we were probably 5 years old. And yet, college students still run out the door in the morning on an empty stomach. It’s easy to forget about breakfast when you’re in a rush to get to class. But breakfast is not only important, it’s also the best type of food (in my opinion). So, here are some quick, easy, and healthy breakfast choices from Trader Joe’s to help you start your day off right!

By: Danielle Collins ‘20

Living a healthy lifestyle is one of the biggest struggles of being a college student. As someone who used to hate working out, I had a hard time finding motivation to go to the gym. But investing in a USC Group Fitness Membership last semester changed all of that. With the mid-semester membership discount coming up on March 1st, I wanted to share some information about USC Workout. Purchasing a USC Group Fitness Membership gives you unlimited access to fitness classes at the Lyon Center and the Village Gym. USC offers a variety of classes throughout the day every day. Keep reading to find out more about USC Group Fitness Memberships and how to sign up!

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

Daniella Mohazab is a senior studying Communication, Media Economics and Entrepreneurship, and is a first year masters student studying Communication Management. Aside from her passion for communication, she is also a strong advocate for the mental well-being of students on our USC campus as well as young adults across the U.S.

By: Alexis M Peters ‘20

Okay, I know what you’re thinking, and the answer is no. I didn’t stay out too late, and I wasn’t being an irresponsible college student. I was living it up on the dance floor at 7 AM on a Wednesday for the good of my health. The fact of the matter is: I hate exercise. I hate going to the gym. I hate running. I hate movement just for the sake of movement. You will never find me doing squats at the gym. You will never find me on an elliptical or a treadmill. And if you do, check up on me to make sure I’m alright.

By: Jamie Wu ‘18

Midterms season is already upon us, my friends. And with that, also everyone’s-getting-sick-season. But fear not, here are 5 easy steps you can take to stop yourself from getting sick!