By: Antonia Le ‘22

After a month of midterms, rainy days, and late nights, spring break is finally here! Your best friend is headed to Cancun, the girl you sit next to is going to London, and your roommate has a plane ticket home for the next week! Meanwhile, you’re still here at USC. But don’t worry, whether you’re stuck here because of work, money, or because you simply don’t want to go home, here are some ways to make the most of your week at USC without emptying your wallet!

By: Natalie Oganesyan ‘22

We all know the struggle of trying to look good in college, especially when we’re low on funds and can’t afford Sephora brand products. I’m here to let you know that there are good makeup and skincare products that are effective, inclusive, and cheap! Here’s a go-to guide on affordable makeup when you’re balling on a budget.

By: Ann Nguyen ‘22

“It’s Los Angeles. It won’t rain in Los Angeles!”

…And now it’s raining. So, aside from giving in and buying an umbrella, are you at a loss on what to do? Well, as the band TOTO tells us, “take some time to do the things you never had.”

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

I’m a Los Angeles native, so I’m not sure what other people think about when they think of Los Angeles, but amusement parks should at least come to mind. The LA area houses a lot of great theme parks, but it can be confusing to know which one is right for you if you are not familiar with them. That is where I, an amusement park junkie, come in. I am here to shed light on the logistics of each park and to help you decide which one is right for you!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Just 12 miles north and 1,273ft up (in elevation) from USC is the Griffith Observatory. The museum, though small, hosts an extensive display of astronomy related exhibits. Free for all and an easy two Metro rides away, it’s a place every student should frequent at least once in their four years at USC.

By: Ann Nguyen ‘22

Whether you’re having an Oscars Watch Party and want to impress your friends in SCA or you just want to be informed, here are my recommended picks and everything you need to know in making your own 2019 Oscars predictions! I have been keeping up with the current Oscars race for almost an entire year — basically since last year’s Oscars. Having always been a huge cinephile, I know everything about how the process works, what constitutes an Oscar-worthy display, and what indicators are most reliable in predicting the Academy Awards. So without further ado, let’s get this show started.

By: Awo Jama ‘22

Earlier in the semester, I had the chance to explore both Little Tokyo and Downtown LA’s Arts District with the USC Photo Club on one of their off-campus excursions. After taking the Metro to Little Tokyo as a group, we were each given a map listing several notable sights in the area, and had free reign to explore what peaked our interest the most. Instead of taking stills of the vibrant murals and bustling shops I passed, I opted to film a short vlog which would document my trip:

By: Awo Jama ‘22

As a first year college student living away from home for the first time, learning how to manage my money has proven to be one of the most difficult adjustments I’ve had to undergo. In order to have more funds available to me for Ubering, getting coffee, doing my laundry (yes, USC makes you pay for your laundry), stocking up on snacks, replenishing my toiletries, and going out with friends, I’ve had to greatly reduce the amount of money I spend on clothes. As a fashion enthusiast, this trade-off hasn’t been easy, and has led to a few impulsive H&M orders. However, after exploring some local second hand clothing stores and gradually incorporating the clothes I’ve found into my wardrobe, I’ve realized that you don’t have to compromise style for affordability when shopping for clothes. Below I’ve listed the best second hand shops I’ve been to near campus, so if you’re on a budget but needing to revamp your wardrobe, keep reading!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

Courtesy of Late Night SC and ResEd, I was finally able to attend LA’s Haunted Hayride at Griffith Park. Here’s an honest review of the Hayride and Purgatory (the theme park).

By: Camila Grases ‘21

I commute to USC. It’s about a 45 minute to an hour drive to and from my house. “Aw thats so sad, you aren’t getting the FULL college experience.” Oh hush hush now. It’s not sad. I wake up every morning in my own bed, my mom makes me breakfast in morning, and when I get home late, there is almost always food waiting for me (or for my brothers, but who am I to complain?). It’s really not so bad. There are definitely days where I wish I could live here, and have roommates and be able to stay late without having the fact that I have to drive home be in the back of my mind always. But I think having the constant support from my family has helped with my mental stability so much. Of course, there are commuters that don’t still live with their parents and whose experience is so different from mine. And there are students that don’t feel the same way about their parents. I’m just here to share a little bit of wisdom I learned from commuting for a full year now.

By: Cameryn Baker ‘22

College road trips have always been something that I thought you did as an upperclassman in college; once you’ve found your tight-knit group of friends and feel like you’re ready to take on this rite of passage. I definitely was not expecting to throw pillows, sleeping bags, and USC gear into my car and embark on my first road trip only three weeks into school.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

Listen, there are two kinds of people in this world: (1) The “I’ve been on thousands of night hikes, I basically have night vision, and darkness is my friend” person or (2) The “I enjoy the night from the comfort of my own home, nature is definitely nice but maybe not when I’m outside, because there may be ghosts here” person. Honestly, I’m the second. I am afraid of the dark (just scared of a lot of things really), so when my team brought up the idea of a night hike, I was a bit hesitant. The more I thought about it, though, the more excited I got. Sometimes, it’s the things we are most afraid of that give us the most pleasure. Compared to other thrill-seeking events, hiking is a relatively mundane activity. If you really think about it, it’s just glorified walking. So, we add a little spice. Go at night, in the hills of LA, to watch a city that is more beautiful in the dark than it is in the light. Trust me, it’s worth it.