By: Ann Nguyen ‘22

The endless midterm season has fallen upon many of us, and the mere thought of constant, back-to-back exams and midterm papers alone can drive you insane. How can you manage it all? How do you find your own balance? I’m still in the process of figuring it all out myself, but hopefully these tips from my personal experience will help you out!

By: Claire Wong ‘23

Yes, that’s right! Free! With the costly tuition we are paying, we want to get as much as possible from our experience at USC. One of the neat opportunities USC offers is access to free events to its students, faculty, staff, and alumni. From Robert Downey Jr.’s Q&A panel to the Black Alumni Association Career Chat, there are hundreds of opportunities on campus to hear cool speakers, network with the top companies, get free food, or even watch a movie before it is released to theaters. But with the thousands of organizations and clubs on campus, it can be difficult to hear about these events. Here are ways you, as a USC student, can find and take advantage of the free events of campus.

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

My first week back at USC, I lost my debit card — which sucked because I had little to no cash on me and didn’t know how I was going to eat between classes. I got through the week by utilizing a variety of different resources at USC and while I didn’t record my experience at the time, I wondered — could I do it again? Finding different places to eat lunch can be difficult, but with effort, it is definitely possible. Between my Monday through Thursday classes, here is what I managed to eat for lunch (for free!) at USC along with a number of other resources I found to help individuals do so!

By: Karla Leung ‘22

Not only is the year ending, but an entire decade, making it the perfect time to make some healthy changes for the better. But you don’t have to wait for the New Year to start living a healthier lifestyle, the best time to start is now! Here are some small and big changes you can make to live a healthier and happier lifestyle.

By: Karla Leung ‘22

If you’re a freshman or sophomore who has dining dollars and want to spend them on something else besides Panda Express or Starbucks, keep reading! There are plenty of places to find delicious, healthy, and fresh foods that are closer than you think!

By: Jordan Bucknor ‘22

Looking to explore Los Angeles, but not really sure where to go? Check out the Japanese Village Plaza in Little Tokyo! With great scenery, great music, and great food, it’s the perfect place if you’re looking to get off of campus. Simply hop on the expo line right from campus, ride eastbound to 7th St/Metro Center, transfer to the Red/Purple train eastbound to Union Station, transfer one last time to the Gold Line southbound towards Atlantic Station before getting off right at Little Tokyo. From there, use this guide to score some of the best snacks available!

By: Sophia Pei ‘22

It’s the height of midterm season and everyone around you is getting sick. The combination of lack of sleep, stress, and lack of self-care can easily lead to you feeling unwell when you most need to be at your best. It’s easy to forget to do the things that keep us well when things get hectic, leading to a positive feedback loop of stress. Here are some reminders and tips for you to be and stay well!

By: Karla Leung ‘22

Dulce Founder James Choi graduated from the University of Southern California with a degree in Accounting ‘05, then went on to work at Ernst and Young. Whenever he had the time, Choi would help out his mother at her Swiss Chocolate shop in Palo Alto, but pursued accounting at Ernst and Young to financially provide for himself and his mother. However, when his mother started battling ovarian cancer, she wanted to follow her dream of starting a bakery in Little Tokyo. Neither Choi nor his mother knew how to run a bakery, but Choi agreed when his mother got a business partner on board. When his mother’s bakery business partner dropped out, Choi decided to put in his 2-week notice at Ernst and Young to open their first Cafe Dulce in Little Tokyo in 2011. A few years later, they opened another at the USC Village in 2017.

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: Amy Wang ‘21

The USC Village has become a prime location for students looking for a new place to eat after class or to shop for necessities to get them through the week. With outdoor tables that provide visitors a place to sit in the shade under the red umbrellas and a variety of restaurants and shops already opened and opening soon, the Village is a great addition to the USC community.

By: Terry Nguyen ‘20

Dark eyebags and the overwhelming aura of desperation are all too common during midterm season, but there is a special treat for the despairing: coffee and café goods. Although Starbucks drinks add little to improve the aura of dark energy literally leaking out from Leavey, you might be feeling as if everyone is rushing to Starbucks and clogging up the Tapingo virtual lines. Have no fear — this listicle is here to guide you to the hidden gem cafés and coffee shops around USC that will help you survive midterms and bolster your energy levels into spring break!

By: Michael Boyle ‘18

There are many great places on and around USC to have an evening-time meal. But which place is right for you? Take our newest quiz to find out!