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: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Certain foods are important for our bodies. We know that. Yet, college students (whether community college, college/university) are experiencing food insecurity. And while we may make self-deprecating jokes about it, in the end – it’s not that funny; it’s pretty serious. In a 2016 Los Angeles Times article, data revealed that 4 out of 10 students in the UC system did not have consistent healthy foods. An earlier study (based in University of Hawai’i) discovered that ~20% of their students would skip meals. Some of you might be saying, “Well, instant ramen is the way to go.” But no. It’s not. By eating these cheap, instant foods, you’re damaging your body and depriving it of the nutrients that it needs. So, I thought it be best to share some information on where you can get help/resources to aid your/others’ food insecurity.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

It seems like it’s always something when it comes to our health and wellness. From yoga to barre to being gluten-free or juicing every day; there is always a new trend. “Mindfulness” and “meditation” are popular buzzwords these days but they’ve been a part of my life for almost 10 years! I started meditating after attending group yoga when I was in middle school. My parent’s had recently gotten divorced and my mom found it was a good way to channel and focus negative energy and thoughts. 7 years later, I found she was right.

By: Ellice Ellis ‘20

There is no surprise that college is stressful. Between balancing work, friendships, internships and your financial life, these formative years teach us a lot about ourselves and the way we handle stress. In the event that something tragic happens, it can be hard to cope and balance it with the already strenuous college experience. In April as I was preparing for finals, my father passed suddenly. My world was flipped upside down. I talked to my dad twice everyday about anything from my lectures in my law class to Colin Kaepernick to drama with my friends. Suddenly not having him there to talk to for advice threw off daily life. No day felt complete. I was depressed - unable to focus and constantly feeling empty. Loss and subsequent grief can come in many forms. Whether it is being rejected from your dream internship (it’s happened to me), experiencing a heart-wrenching breakup, or losing a loved one, there are healthy and effective ways deal with the pain.

By: Judy Lee ‘17

In recent news, USC jumped up from 73 to 36 on Trojan Condoms’ Most Sexually Healthy Campuses in the nation. Go us! That said, not only is it important to foster a sex-positive campus, it is important to be educated on what USC can provide to better your own personal health!

By: Sydney Fishman ‘16

Hello fellow USC students! My name is Sydney Fishman. I’m a senior majoring in Environmental Studies, and I am also a Student Worker at the Office for Wellness and Health Promotion. Whether you’re a freshman finishing up your first year of college, or a seasoned senior looking ahead toward your next steps, we all have finals season ahead of us. For many like myself, it’s challenging to stay well during the last few weeks of school—you stay up too late, don’t eat well, and feel generally “blah.”

By: Judy Lee ‘17

1. Charity Miles: Open app, run, donate to charity free of charge to you—simple as that. The way it works is that big companies sponsor everyone using the app and donates on your behalf given that you run/walk/cycle for it. Although you’re not going to get much per run (more or less $0.31/mi), it will really add up over time and will benefit a long list of charities of your choice! A great way to better yourself and better the world at the same time…

By: AnnaLiese Burich ‘17

I think it’s been hitting us all recently: the end of the semester is basically here. I know, I know, it felt like we were battling the summer heat yesterday, but now it’s time to be buying Christmas presents, eating Thanksgiving turkey, and….studying for finals.

By: Judy Lee ‘17

As you may or may not have heard, the Pac-12 Fitness Challenge is currently underway on college campuses once again! While simultaneously competing with our football teams, we will also be competing in amount of exercises completed by school! In light of this week, here are 10 things you can do today to increase your health (and also show the other schools who’s boss):