Just Take The Class
by Donal Buckley ‘26
Have you ever come across an interesting class during registration but felt unsure if you wanted to take it? USC has a wide array of electives to choose from, and many of them have attention-grabbing names. But, sometimes, there’s a little voice in the back of my head that gives me doubts on whether or not I should take that class. We’ve all been here before, but I’m here to tell you that you should always give the class a try.
I was very unsure about taking certain PE classes. I don’t like working out in front of other people, but I wanted to learn how to do exercises beyond the standard cardio on a treadmill or bike. So I decided to take both weight training and swimming last semester. It was a risk I wanted to take in order to learn how to better my physical health, and both classes seemed fun.
Turns out, I ended up really enjoying both classes. I’ve had many conversations with people about wanting to learn how to properly lift weights, but they’re too scared of going to the gym because they feel like other people will judge them for being amateurs. The weight training class was what I needed to push past my insecurities. I learned a lot about safe weight lifting techniques, as well as how to train different muscle groups and proper nutrition. Now, I go to the gym regularly and use what I learned from the class.
Swimming was another success. I’ve always loved to swim but never did it as a form of exercise. I was worried about the hassle of having to bring a change of clothes and get wet in the middle of the day, but I decided to try it anyway. Those things were still true as I took the class, but it was definitely worth it. It was such a unique experience and also served as a nice break in the day.
It’s not just the PE electives that can be scary to take, though. My friend, Olivia Howard, gave me an insight into some of the classes she was intimidated to take as well.
Last semester, she took a songwriting class, and she wasn’t too confident going into it. “I was nervous to show the songs I’ve worked on to an audience and create new ones as well,” she said. She also mentioned that the class required her to perform live for the first time. Despite all this, she stuck through it and ended up considering it one of her favorite classes. “The class reignited my passion for music,” she said. Despite pushing her out of her comfort zone, it was a rewarding experience.
Olivia also told me about the magic class that she took. She mentioned how it was a new skill she had to learn and was nervous about messing up, but she also said, “There was a performance aspect to the class as well. So not only did you have to be entertaining, you also had to get the tricks right.” Ultimately, it ended up being a very valuable experience for her. “The class actually made me realize that I Iike performing and learning new things.”
USC has an abundance of classes to take, and we’re so fortunate to be attending a university that offers so many unique electives. Even if a class looks daunting, I see no reason to not give it a go, especially if it grabs your attention. You’re only in college for so long, and it’d be a shame to miss out on the opportunity to get into something new.
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