A Trojan’s Guide to Keeping New Year’s Resolutions
By Anna Lipscomb
It’s 2017! New year, new you. Do you want to live a healthier lifestyle this year? Learn a new language? Save more money? Stop procrastinating? Here’s how you can keep up your New Year’s resolution at USC:
Resolution #1: Live a healthier lifestyle
Eat healthier
USC Hospitality has articles information about nutrition and diet, such as mindful eating and healthier food picks to help you take on healthier eating habits.
You should also check out the Farmer’s Market on Wednesdays from 11-2 at McCarthy Quad. You can purchase fresh fruits, vegetables, and other items.
(Photo Credit: USC Photo/Gus Ruelas)
Make an exercise plan
Lyon Center - Students with a USC ID can use the gym for free, and faculty/staff can use it at a discounted price. (Hours: Mon-Fri: 6am-midnight; Sat-Sun: 11 am-midnight)
Don’t just go to the gym - consider signing up for a class! From January 9-13, there are free previews of the fitness class to help you see which kind of fitness class you are interested in. A few of the classes that may be offered include zumba, yoga, muscle conditioning, and pilates.
You can also consider joining a club sport!
However, the trick is to be consistent - choose a day or two each week and put it on your calendar.
For even more fun (and motivation), bring a workout buddy!
Take care of your mental health.
Being a college student can be stressful at times. It’s important to lower your stress level, and the Student Health Center’s Stress Relief Clinic is here to help.
One of my favorite ways to relieve stress is with USC’s Pause for Paws (therapy dogs) and Beau the Wellness dog.
If you are feeling especially overwhelmed or are struggling with something in your life and just want someone to listen and support you, you can make an appointment with the Counseling Center. Professionals will work with you one-on-one to support and help you.
Another extremely popular and effective way to take care of yourself is by practicing mindfulness. USC offers multiple mindfulness classes, so you can find the one that works best for you and your schedule. Although the schedule of mindfulness classes hasn’t been released yet, you can sign up for the mailing list to hear about it when it becomes available for the next semester.
Last but not least, make sure you get enough sleep! The CDC recommends 7-9 hours of sleep per night for adults. By making sleep a priority, you will be able to get the rest and energy you need the next day. Try to go to bed and wake up around the same time each day to be consistent and make sleep into a good habit. If you’re exhausted during the day, try taking a short nap (20-30 minutes) to recharge. Don’t forget to set an alarm so that you wake up on time! The Student Health Center offers information and sleep resources.
(Photo credit: USC ESHC)
Check out the other resources at the Student Health Center.
Immunization clinic - you can get your flu shot and other vaccinations here.
Happy Hour with OWHP (Tai Chi, Yoga, Therapy dogs)
Relationship and Sexual Violence Prevention and Services (RSVP)
Resolution #2: Learn a new language
Consider taking a class
For me, taking a language class is the most effective because I’m able to learn all of the aspects of a language - listening, speaking, reading, writing, culture, etc. Furthermore, it’s structured so I don’t have to come up with the resources yourself. Most of the Chinese language classes I’ve taken at USC meet for one hour a day from Monday-Thursday, which means I’m able to practice the language almost every day. Repetition and consistency is key to learning a new language.
The USC Language Center offers placement exams that will place you into the appropriate class. If you’re learning a language for the first time, you will most likely be placed in the beginning classes. Foreign language courses may be taken P/NP.
Join a culture/language-related club on campus!
Not only will you make friends with people who have a common interest in the language and culture, but you could also find a language buddy to help you practice.
Just a few to name: Chinese-English Language Exchange, EALC Korean Language Extracurricular activities, Japanese Exchange Student Supporters (JESS), Spanish Undergraduate Student Association conversation tables
(Photo credits: USC International Academy)
Use mobile apps
Before I learned Chinese at USC, I used multiple mobile apps. These gave me knowledge of basic phrases, vocabulary, and grammar. By the time I took classes, I had a good understanding of the basics and made it easier to learn. Right now I’m trying to learn Portuguese. Here are some of the apps that I recommend:
Duolingo iOS/Android (for English speakers: Spanish, French, Russian, Hebrew, Vietnamese, Italian, German, etc. Duolingo also has multiple languages available for speakers of other languages to learn). For my fellow Chinese language learners, Duolingo currently doesn’t have Mandarin so you can use something such as Hello Chinese (iOS/Android) and ChineseSkill (iOS/Android)
A quick note - all of these apps I mentioned above are free and have little/no ads on them. Most will send you a notification to practice each day and encourage you to spend a certain amount of time (such as 15 minutes a day).
A final suggestion for mobile language-related apps is Twitter. Some people have accounts that post daily words, phrases, or resources that are helpful for language learning.
Immerse yourself in the culture
You don’t necessarily have to go to the country where a language is spoken to immerse yourself in its culture. Practice your culture knowledge and listening skills by watching/listening to music, TV shows, movies, news, and more. It’s really easy because you can just do it from your smartphone, which means you can do it anytime - when you’re eating breakfast, waiting for an appointment, or just have extra time on your hands.
The biggest benefit is that you get used to hearing the language - for Chinese, I noticed that my pronunciation and listening improved after listening to Chinese-language music and TV programs each day. Furthermore, I was able to pick up on nuances such as regional accents and casual phrases.
If you’re not sure where to start for music, I usually look at a list of top hits from a country where the language is spoken. I also recommend looking up that language’s version of popular Disney movie songs (even if meanings and translations are different, you’ll still have a certain sense of what the song is about and what kind of vocabulary will be used). If you decide to watch TV or movie programs in that language, you can also look up the soundtrack and listen to those songs as well. Most music sites and apps will offer song recommendations, so you can explore different types of music and artists.
Netflix and other streaming sites have TV shows and movies available that you can use, whether its programs from other countries, or audio and/or subtitles of an English one. The best thing about Netflix is that most things will be subtitled, which is important if you are a beginner. Once your language abilities improve, you can gradually remove the English subtitles and change them to subtitles in that language. Eventually, you might not need them at all. A fun bonus from watching TV programs/movies is that you’ll start to pick up on pop culture. When I was in China last summer researching the presence of celebrity endorsements in sports apparel marketing, I was able to recognize and identify most of the Chinese celebrities because I had seen them on TV programs.
Study abroad
One of the best ways to learn a language is to study abroad. There’s nothing like learning/using the language in its native environment. You’ll have the opportunity to practice the language, experience the culture, eat the food, and make friends from all over the world! Check out USC’s Overseas Studies to start planning your adventure!
Take note that some programs may have language requirements, especially the ones that last a semester or year. Luckily, there are multiple summer programs and Problems without Passports programs that will allow you to spend some time abroad without a language requirement. You can practice your language skills while also learning about the culture, exploring the country, working and researching, and getting credit. One example of this was the program I did last summer: Problems without Passports: Global East Asia in China. There are also many Maymester courses offered for a range of different majors. Some departments also offer departmental summer programs in places such as China, Rome, France, Russia, Spain, and more.
(Photo Credit: Anna Lipscomb) - In summer 2016, I explored and researched in China. Along the way, I had the opportunity to visit cities such as Beijing and become friends with the people there.
(Photo Credit: Anna Lipscomb) - Before I came to USC as a spring admit, I had the opportunity to study in Spain to improve my Spanish. My skills drastically improved because I lived in a Spanish dormitory and few people spoke English. In the photo above, I found an “American food restaurant” which my friends and I had to try to compare. It was interesting because based on the menu and decorations, we were able to get a sense of what other countries thought about American culture.
Resolution #3: Spend less, save more
First things first, be sure to take advantage of all the perks of being a USC student. These discounts and freebies can help you cut back on important expenses.
You should learn to live on a budget by cutting back and keeping track of your spending. This will allow you to better plan out where you want your money to go (or not to go).
Get a job
In order to save money, it helps to be earning some. There are many different jobs and opportunities available on campus for both work study and non-work study students.
By getting a job, you’ll also be able to develop valuable work experience. The USC Career center hosts many job fairs and workshops throughout the semester to help you prepare for your job interviews and applications.
(Photo credit: Daily Trojan)
Instead of going out every weekend, see what is happening on campus
Visions and Voices offers a diverse selection of events both on and off campus. As students, you can go to these for free (and the off-campus ones typically provide transportation). Make sure you RSVP in advance since Vision and Voices events are very popular and fill up quickly.
Dornsife and other colleges frequently hold events, workshops, and guest speakers open to the students and community. Departments also hold events that you may find interesting.
The School of Cinematic Arts frequently holds screenings and other events featuring works by students and alumni.
USC Cardinal & Gold Events (every Thursday, Friday, and Saturday night) and are free to residential students. These events may be crafts, movie nights, or even off-campus trips.
Save on transportation
There are multiple ways to get around LA. To get around USC and its campuses, there are buses and campus cruisers (as well as the USC Uber).
To go further, you can get discounts on car rentals or take public transportation to cut down the amount you’re spending on transportation.
Resolution #4: Improve my grades and stop procrastinating
Find a study spot
Preferably quiet/where you can focus. It’s important to minimize distractions, including your phone and social media networks. If you’re listening to music or typing on a computer, don’t have Facebook (or other distracting sites) on another tab.
Many people like to study at one of the many libraries at USC, but if you want to try a new study spot, Trojans 360’s Michael Boyle created a quiz to help you.
(Photo credit: Viterbi Voices)
Need study music?
The type of music you choose to study to can affect your productivity. Make sure you choose the kind that will positively affect your studying.
If you are studying a foreign language, consider using music in that language as study music. That way, you’re practicing your listening skills with background music. However, make sure it isn’t too distracting.
Study smart.
Handwrite your notes. Although typing may seem more convenient or quicker, it doesn’t necessarily benefit you. Studies show that people who handwrite their notes generally perform better than those who type them, as they retain the information longer.
Weekly study groups - go over your notes together and talk about the class. Try to meet at the same time/day each week - consistency is key!
When you take study breaks, time yourself so that you don’t distract yourself and get off schedule. For example 1 hour of work = 10 min break. Make sure you can control yourself during your break - don’t start something new. Take a walk. Stretch. Grab a quick (and healthy) snack.
It’s also important to know your study preferences. Do you prefer to study in silence or with quiet noise? Alone or in a group? During the day or at night? With a computer or with a book and pen? Flashcards? If you’re not sure, try something new and see how it works for you.
It helps if you know your learning style (visual, auditory, reading/writing, or kinesthetic). By knowing your learning style, you can tailor your studying to what works best for you. For example, I’m a visual learner, so using pens and highlighters in different colors benefit me because I can assign a meaning to each color and organize my notes according to that. If you are a visual and/or auditory learner, finding videos relating to the subject may help you.
Use the resources available to you
USC Writing Center - Thanks to WRIT 150, I started using this resource A LOT. All you have to do is make an appointment online and then show up and receive feedback on your paper. They’ve helped me discover and fix mistakes that I wouldn’t have caught otherwise.
You should also visit your TA and professor during office hours - I like to put it on my calendar so I always know when/where it is. By going to office hours, the TA and professor will also be able to get to know you as a student. Don’t just go right before midterms and the end of the semester because it’ll be very busy - go throughout the semester and have them clarify things for you so that you don’t have to rush right before the test.
(Photo Credit: USC Dornsife)
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