By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

Sometimes, there are amazing organizations out there where the participants spend so much time trying to make the world a better place for people. WYSE is one of the many organizations on USC’s campus that really bring together the surrounding community of women with the female students of USC. Women and Youth Supporting Each Other (or WYSE) empowers young women by providing the resources and support necessary to make positive life choices and create community change.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

Yo, Anonymous! First off, Congratulations on applying, getting in, and choosing USC!! Welcome to the Trojan Family! Housing freshman year is really… interesting. In my experience, finding a roommate online is kind of like online dating. People put themselves out there and you can either put yourself out there and wait for someone to contact you or look through all the people and reach out to people. It depends on what you want to do.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Last weekend I set several alarms for 3 AM Friday morning, strapped on my massive backpack filled to the brim with assorted snacks and jackets, double-checked I had my passport, and hopped into a taxi with my friend and fellow Trojan, Francesca, for our obscenely early flight (saving some moola, gaining some time) to El Calafate in the southern part of Argentina, a region called Patagonia. It may come as a surprise to some of you that your trendy-yet-functional-cold-weather-Patagonia-brand gear is named after a real place, but I can now officially confirm this fact first-hand and let me tell you, it sure is a beauty.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

I entered USC as an Undecided Major and I hope to exit triumphantly next spring with 2 majors and 2 minors, pending how some of my abroad credits transfer in. Though I do not work in the Admissions Office, I do in fact, know almost all of the majors USC offers simply because I’ve considered declaring most of them.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

1. High School Musical 2: This franchise changed a generation, in my humble opinion. This sequel appeared on Disney Channel in 2008. While it included many adults acting as high schoolers and singing about their feelings, they also discussed topics that relate to the youth of America: Friendship, college, scholarships, and trying to actually have a job in the summer months during high school…

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

I’ll level with you all. I have never played lacrosse. I know it’s the one shortcoming of my sports education. But just because I have not played it does not mean I cannot enjoy it. And I do enjoy it and YOU SHOULD TOO. USC’s women’s lacrosse team is absolutely KILLING IT this season, so to get you all ready to support them at their next game, I’m here to break down the game of lacrosse for you.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

This week, from April 11 to April 15 is Sexual Assault Awareness Week at USC. The gravity of the problem of sexual assaults on college campuses is starting to be recognized nationwide and hopefully this week will serve as a step towards addressing the issue on our own campus. If you or someone close to you is a survivor of sexual assault, then you know how important recognizing this week is, although it can be difficult or triggering.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

While the weather was not the best this past weekend, the Festival of Books was a major success, at least from where I’m standing. At that point, I was walking around campus without an umbrella with a light shower making me slightly damp. There were families, school groups, couples, the old, the young, and everyone in between. It is so special that the University of Southern California gets to host such an important event. Even better, all of the students for USC get to experience this festival and listen in on the amazing talks happening throughout our campus.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

I’ve played volleyball. Oh yeah, I’ve played volleyball. Eighth grade. Picture me: totally ready to already be in high school but still having another year of middle school. So I join every. single. sport possible. I joined basketball, cheerleading, swimming, track, cross country, and of course, volleyball. The only real skill I had at volleyball was being able to serve really well. The most prominent memory of my 8th grade volleyball career was at the championship match. I was put in to serve and then taken out the next point. Every single time for the same girl who was better at everything but horrible at serving.

By: Kelly Kinas ‘16

I know what you’re thinking. Disney movies are for kids! The character’s struggles can’t be related to my personal struggles! Lucky for you all, you have me, a creative thinking, Disneyland annual pass holding, USC student who can come up with connections when you can’t.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

When you’re adjusting to a new city, of course you need to give yourself some time to figure out how everything works. Waiting to feel comfortable and for some semblance of confidence is frustrating to say the least, especially when you can’t help making comparisons to how things work “so smoothly” back home.

By: Grace Carballo ‘17

Last Thursday, I did what any productive exchange student would do in between classes- checked my instagram and ate yesterday’s dinner leftovers from my new tupperware. Such multi-tasking was dangerous and nearly caused me to choke on a spoonful of lentils because within the first few photos alone, I realized my fellow Trojans were with Hillary Rodham Clinton.