5 Lessons for My Freshman Year Self
By: Ellice Ellis ‘20
Here’s a secret about me— I’m a senior. And yes, I’m stressed about paying back student loans, finding a job after college and senioritis has consumed my entire being. Despite the beautiful mess that is the end of my college career, there is a multitude of experiences and lessons to be grateful for. So for my freshman, sophomores, and even juniors, here are some lessons you can pull from my college experience, and hopefully, you’ll come out on top.
1. Take GE’s Early
Everyone from your advisor to your older cousins will tell you this, and you may not listen, but it’s gospel. General education is geared toward freshmen and sophomores. Yes, as a freshman at USC, many of us are set on being the next Steve Jobs, Shonda Rhimes, or Lester Holt, but GEs can be valuable in shaping your interest in college.
Gen Eds will give you an introduction to different areas of academia, and if you find yourself intrigued, you can eventually find your niche. Don’t be a junior pursuing a major you’re not passionate about, take a GE that switches your focus, and then..boom, you’re off track for graduation. There’s no problem with changing your major, and GE’s won’t be the only factor in that, but it’s better to take them sooner than later.
Learn from me. In January, I’ll be a 2nd semester senior with two GE classes left. Quite frankly, all I want to do is focus on my internships, journalism capstone projects, and hang with friends. Senioritis it 10x harder to deal when you’re still taking GE’s…so knock ‘em out.
2. Explore Los Angeles, not just the Fryft boundaries
Exploring Los Angeles was natural to me. I couldn’t be confined to the four walls of Flour Tower forever, and I wanted to branch out my shell. Freshman year, I missed homecoming to go to Complexcon in Long Beach. I love World on Wheels, shopping at The Alley was a junior year past time of mine, and I’m consistently at concerts all over LA county. But as I’ve joined more USC clubs and engagements, I find myself only on campus and not taking in the world around me. This serves as a reminder for 2016 Ellice to never stop exploring LA.
Seeing LA beyond what is related to USC is hard. With all the amenities in the area, sometimes you’ll feel the need not to leave the campus. It’s essential to take advantage and experience the city outside of the gates of USC. There are loads of art museums, diverse cuisines, beaches, and more.
Leaving USC is also an opportunity to meet students from other campuses. There’s UCLA, LMU, CSUN, Occidental College, Pepperdine, and more. You can meet members of fellow Greek-life organizations, find groups to do collaborations with, and hear speakers as fresh as the ones at USC.
It would be a shame to spend four years at an institution and not know the city and the culture it lives within. Go to Pride in West Hollywood, the Slauson swapmeet, and or spend a day volunteering. Even within fryft boundaries, there’s Revolutionario Taco, Mercardo La Paloma, and more.
There is a world to see beyond USC, and the 1st step to engaging in it could be as simple as visiting a public library to study or a local coffee shop. You never know where inspiration or new opportunities lie.
3. Have Fun, but take your career seriously.
I’ve had 4 internships throughout college, and I currently have a part-time job for the largest music company in the world. That wouldn’t have come without hard work inside and outside the classroom. Getting an internship in many fields is a head-start on your career and can give you insight into the types of jobs you do and don’t like.
Most employers are looking for entry-level candidates with work experience. And without it, applying for jobs can be an unpleasant experience. I have friends who are anxious when talking to recruiters and taking informational interviews because they have zero work experience.
But at the same time, there are a plethora of clubs and opportunities on campus that can take the place of an internship or part-time job. Write for the Daily Trojan, get involved with USC Athletics, do research, or join the debate team. All of these experiences are valuable and can prepare you for real-world experiences.
In my junior year, I interned for the USC School of Architecture, managing their social media, writing faculty profiles, and planning events. The skills I learned there have transferred to my part-time job and have been lauded by employers.
Get your career started by also visiting the career center. People enter through the doors of the career center before senior year, and those people seem to be the ones who get jobs and have a better understanding of the job market. Also, ask your professors for advice. They can give you constructive feedback as to what you thrive and what job could be a good fit for you.
4. Study Abroad
In high school, I studied in Ghana for a year, and during my spring semester of junior year, I went to London through USC Annenberg, and it was lovely.
As much as universities, especially USC, tout having excellent study aboard opportunities, the actual logistics of these programs are way more complicated. Sometimes financial aid doesn’t cover it. Occasionally, classes you take overseas don’t count towards your principal. And the typical USC student is extremely busy, too, with on-campus opportunities to jet set for half a year.
The harsh reality is might be unrealistic to study abroad, depending on your major or schedule. But in the instance that isn’t the case…go for it.
Start planning for it as early as possible if you want to go abroad. You might have to take a few extra classes one semester so you can spend a few months gallivanting around another country. It’s definitely worth it. Talk to your academic advisor and parents EARLY about studying abroad and if it’s possible for you. Just as I said, branching out and exploring Los Angles is beneficial, so is studying in a new country.
5. Don’t Spend Too Much Time Stressing
College is hard, and it’s designed that way. You’ll inevitably find yourself freaking out about something—a late assignment, an internship application, an annoying roommate— but ask yourself if it’ll matter to you in five years. If the answer is no, brush ya shoulders off. It’s easier said than done, and I don’t always practice what I preach. But, in the grand scheme of things, you only have a set number of days in college. Don’t waste them worrying about stuff that won’t matter in the long run.
And if you do find yourself stressed, reach out to a friend—there’s strength in community. Don’t forget to call your loved ones back home, they can also provide solace. Even talking to a professor, TA, or advisor can alleviate the pressure. And there’s always USC’s counseling and mental health services that can be found here: https://studenthealth.usc.edu/counseling/
The beauty of freshman year is that you have a clean slate. You’re fresh, full of excitement and wonder because the next few years could make up some of the best memories of your life. Use these tips and talk to other upperclassmen about their experiences. No one in college does it all alone, rely upon, and learn from the people around you— that’s the real key to success.
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