Every summer, I always look forward to three months of what I consider uninterrupted reading time. This year, my “to be read” list is naturally veering towards themes around graduation and what comes after it since I will be navigating post-grad life. If you’re also heading into the unknown, here are some books I’ll be reading to navigate this simultaneous ending and new beginning.

As someone who grew up in Los Angeles, I was hesitant to go to college in my hometown. When I was accepted to USC, I was excited but had one major concern: I didn’t expect the experience to change me very much. What would I experience in the next four years that I hadn’t already? However, from the beginning, my college experience has been extremely unconventional.

I am exceptionally bad at all of my hobbies. As someone who leans towards perfectionism, this has always frustrated me. Activities that were supposed to be fun quickly turned sour when I stagnated in my progress — how could I have fun when I wasn’t improving my skills in a productive way? 

As an English major, the only thing I love more than reading books is buying them. Is there anything better than spending a quiet morning browsing around a bookstore, with an iced latte in hand, looking for your next read? There isn’t. 

I’ve scoured far and wide—driving everywhere from Downtown to Hollywood to the beach—looking for the best bookstores in Los Angeles so you don’t have to. Below are just a few of my recommendations organized based on the experience you’re after. Visit each store one at a time or plan out your own bookstore crawl! Whether you’re a bookworm or not, each store is worth visiting to get a glimpse at a new area of LA. 

Since its conception in March 1987, Women’s History Month has been a time to celebrate women—of all backgrounds and identities—and their contributions to society. WHM is also a time to empower younger generations of women—the trailblazers of the future.

When volunteering you have the opportunity to empower and improve communities, meet new people, discover new causes and passions, and much more. In a city as big as Los Angeles, there’s always events where you can lend a hand, and there are tons of organizations to work with on a regular basis. However, with all of these options, it can be overwhelming to start a volunteer search, especially with a busy student schedule.  My suggestion is to start finding opportunities right here on-campus. 

USC’s Career Center hosts several career fairs throughout the academic year for undergraduate students, graduate students, and even alumni. In February, the Career Center will host a “general career fair” which will feature nearly 100 employers hiring for internship, part-time, and full-time positions. The benefits of attending any of the Career Center’s fairs are vast; I’m most excited to meet face-to-face with recruiters, network with industry professionals, and learn about opportunities and companies I might not have discovered otherwise.

Now in my last semester at USC, I’ve learned college doesn’t end all at once. Instead, college ends in stages and phases. Because of this, each new semester and every new year is a chance to start fresh and reevaluate what you want to get out of your college experience. For me, this means approaching my last semester differently; my goal is to spend more time outside of my comfort zone.

Navigating your first few months in college is not an easy task. Take it from me – as a freshman, I struggled to stay motivated in classes and fully engage in university life (not to mention that my first year was 100% online). As an English major, it’s unsurprising that I turned to books for some solace. Whether it be self-help guides, literary classics, or new fiction, books have the power to inspire every era of your life. To guide you in the right direction and set the mood for your college experience, I’ve compiled a list of a few books I believe every first-year should read.

I recently visited the First Generation Plus Success Center (FG+SC) to begin this mission. If you’re like me and you are unfamiliar with FG+SC, here’s what I learned during my time there. 

Happy Rivalry Week! On November 18, the USC football team will play our crosstown rivals, the UCLA Bruins. Rivalry Week is a special time on campus – from Sunday to the Saturday game, students take part in several traditions to celebrate the 90-year rivalry. 

Before I started working at the Career Center in my sophomore year, I assumed USC’s career services were limited to their in-person advising appointments and online job boards. If you’re unfamiliar with the general or school-based career centers, you might be unaware of just how many free resources USC offers to help you prepare for a successful career.