Anthony and Avery are two good friends of mine, and also two friends I’ll unfortunately be losing soon due to early graduation. As juniors, we’d typically have one year left at USC. But Anthony’s graduating this spring, and Avery’s graduating in the fall. I had them tell me about the pros and cons of their unique experience.

Life can really suck sometimes, and moments like these remind us exactly of that. But moments like these can also remind us that there’s some light in dark situations — in my case (no unfortunately timed pun intended), it was my friends who went out of their way to make my situation easier.

Overall, I’ve found that bringing my Switch to school has been such a positive experience. I love playing it and I’m sure I’ve forced my friends into loving Mario Kart too. In all seriousness, it offers such an easy activity to bond with close friends or make new ones too. If you have one, don’t take it for granted.

It’s peppermint season, and you know what that means: new Starbucks holiday items. Every year, Starbucks releases new treats to celebrate the holiday season. This year, they released on November 7, and are set to leave stores in mid-January. Among the new delicacies are a seasonal refresher — the Cran-Merry Orange refresher — and a new pastry — the Dark Toffee Bundt. I tried them so you don’t have to, and by the end of the article, you can decide whether you’ll indulge in the new snacks or just stick to the peppermint basics.

November was a big month for movies, and the one that seemed to top them all was Wicked. The highly-anticipated adaptation of the Broadway musical has been in production since 2016 and finally hit the theaters on November 22. I don’t normally get this excited for movies, but between marketing campaigns and internet memes, Wicked was a must-see for me as soon as I could. And, for the most part, I’d say it lived up to the hype. This is my (mostly) spoiler-free review of Wicked.

Taking 20 units is a lot of work, but it’s doable — and valuable. If I wasn’t taking 20 units, I wouldn’t be able to study everything I’m interested in. It’s a sacrifice I’m willing to make, especially if it means not having to graduate late (and pay for extra semesters). USC is such a prestigious institution, and we pay a lot of money to be here. I figured I might as well make the most of my tuition, and there’s support in place to be able to do it.

One of the privileges of studying at a school like USC is the amount of academic opportunities there are. From unique classes, to clubs, to study abroad, and much, much more, the university puts a real emphasis on interdisciplinary learning. Around this time last year, something clicked in my brain: I really wanted to take advantage of everything that USC had to offer. So, I started considering a double major.

Going into my junior year, I knew I wanted to start making the most of my summers. With only two left, it was important for me to find an internship or some sort of career-advancing opportunity. As someone who’s heavily considering staying in Los Angeles after graduation, it was important for me to find said opportunity down here. The only problem was that I’m from Portland, not LA, so staying here over the summer would require more effort than it would if I tried to find a job back home.

After being at USC for two years, I’ve realized that getting ready to go back to school in college is very different than in high school. Especially if you’re from out of state or simply do not live at home, getting prepared for the new school year is more than just buying school supplies.

No matter what year you’re in, deciding where to live for the upcoming school year is always a daunting task. Whether it’s deciding to live on or off campus, finding something within your budget, or looking for suitable roommates, there are so many factors to consider in choosing a living situation. But, as incoming freshmen, it can be especially challenging. Before setting foot on campus, first-years have so much to learn, and understanding housing options is one of the first major steps into acclimating to college life.

A trip away from USC was in the cards for me this Spring Break, and I was lucky enough to travel to Delray Beach, Florida. My friend Anthony calls it home and invited a group of our friends to come stay with him for the week. If you ever find yourself in Delray Beach, here are some exciting attractions and relaxing spots to visit during your stay.

One of my favorite things to do in LA is try new restaurants. One of the unique parts of this city is how it’s home to a diverse array of eateries. Recently, my friend Branden Mendez took me to Kura Revolving Sushi Bar for the first time.