By: Nathan Kim ‘24

As we are reaching the midway point of the semester, it’s easy to become unmotivated and exhausted from the ever increasing pile of work. I know that for me, I’m finding it harder to get up each day and consistently keep up with balancing my school, social, and personal life. It’s a constant battle to not feel burnt out and keep working hard each day, but I’ve tried to combat this by utilizing methods to regain that drive again and get out of this rut in my life. So here are 3 ways you, too, can escape that feeling of being stuck and unable to move forward.

By: Lanie Brice ‘24

Between classes, homework, clubs, internships, and jobs, it can be hard to find the time and energy to actually make a nutritious meal at the end of the day. I’ve definitely struggled with this myself. Over the last month and a half though, I’ve gotten more into cooking and discovered some quick, healthy meals that I genuinely enjoy making. While many of these are geared towards those of us with kitchens, I’ve done my best to note ways you can make these meals in your dorm as well. Hopefully, some of my favorites will inspire a lunch, snack, or dinner this week!

By: Dara Udobong ‘23

I started my USC journey back in Fall 2019. I had almost no idea what to expect: I’d only been to LA once before, barely knew if I was even ready to do this whole school thing again (after the most restful gap-year experience ever), and knew almost no one that was starting at USC in my grade. People from my high school rarely (if ever) came all the way out to the West Coast simply because it’s too far away from home, so I already felt like a fish out of water from the jump.

By: Una Stanisavljevic ‘22

As midterms are fast approaching, having someone to talk to regarding academic stress or personal issues can be a resourceful tool. Understanding that it can be daunting for many to confess their inner dilemmas, it can be helpful in alleviating some external pressures.

By: Sydney Fiorentino ‘24

School is back in person and many of us want to go out and party. We’ve been in quarantine for a year where we had no in-person social gatherings and all we wanted to do was spend time with friends. Now that everything is opened again, everyone wants to just have fun! But, there’s a catch to going out…not catching COVID or the delta variant.

By: Una Stanisavljevic ‘22

For many college students, receiving the preferred number of hours of sleep can be difficult. From grueling through all-nighters to attending parties, filling in the gap by recharging your body is a crucial component of self-care. While it might seem like an appealing idea in the beginning, choosing to swap sleep for coffee will not last in the long run.

By: Dara Udobong ‘23

Easily the biggest skincare myth floating around historically African communities is that dark-skinned people don’t need sunscreen. This was exemplified in the way I shrugged off a summer camp counsellor’s advice to rub on sunblock before we went on a hike (I definitely didn’t know what I was saying) or the diminished sunscreen options available for darker skin tones. A sunburnt picture of me in 10th grade agrees. Darker-skin tones can give the illusion of protection from the harsh sun rays because they mask the tell-tale signs of burns, redness, and inflammation. Nonetheless, overexposure to UV rays can pose as a cancer risk, especially in the never-ending-summers of Southern California. Below is a list of the best un-tinted mineral sunscreens for people with dark sin (without the grey cast!) below $45:

By: Sydney Henry ‘24

I’m pretty sure we’re all glad that 2020 is nearing its end because this year has been ROUGH!!! I know it’s hard to be optimistic about what positive vibes 2021 might bring for us. So how can you bring that optimism back? Try creating a mood board for 2021 to guide yourself through the changes coming in the new year.

By: Nathan Vogel ‘21

Craft on!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

With the raging pandemic and social distancing, it can be increasingly difficult to have meaningful interactions with friends and family. Perhaps your best friend, whom you previously saw every day, is halfway across the country in a different time zone, and, now that you’ve moved back home, the parents you missed are breathing down your neck and nagging about grades and future plans. Whether it’s due to the increased distance or the lack of any distance, your relationship dynamics have changed. To improve relationship quality and promote mental well-being, you should make the time to find ways to check in with your loved ones and show them you care.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

With a lot of us still stuck at home, fitness has been a popular topic this year — everyone trying to make the best out of their situation. I’ve made a post about fitness/working out before, but I recently became aware of another option for students: WORK. USC Rec Sports partnered with WORK to bring you even more workouts. WORK offers not only live (everyday but Sunday), but a collection of pre-recorded videos for constant access. Not limited by a schedule, students can have full control over when you’d like to work out, even past the semester. While there are a collection of free classes available, WORK and USC Rec Sports is offering a 70% discount for USC students to total in at $25 a month.

By: Celine Vazquez ‘24

This semester has been far from easy, and pushing through finals season has seriously taken a toll on all of our mental health. After finals are finished, it’s important for us to take a step back and take care of our minds! Here are just a few ways you can mentally recharge after finals, so you can be ready to have a wonderful, relaxing break. Let’s get started, Trojans!