By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

This year is my junior year. For some, it is their last, their second, or their very first. Some are wealthy, some are living decently, and some are barely surviving when it comes to money. While I have other identities, being low-income in college is what I will talk about in this post. In this post, I hope to share my story for those who are going through something similar and to share resources that I have used to help me get through financial issues.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Ever wanted to conduct research on a subject you are interested in with a faculty member? Are you currently interested in pursuing a Masters or PhD.? Then maybe the Gateway Scholars Research Program is for you! The Gateway Scholars Research Program is designed to prepare and nurture undergraduate students for doctoral studies through involvement in research and other scholarly activities.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Hello, all! I hope your semester has been going well and that you are all taking care of yourselves. While I am a bit late on posting this, I firmly believe in “better late than never!” If you haven’t heard yet – it’s a very special time of the year for me and my fellows Latinx/Hispanic folks:

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

It’s that time of year again! FESTIVAL OF BOOKS SEASON! If you’re a book lover like me, you probably get maybe a little too excited about books. The Festival of Books is basically HEAVEN.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

As we are coming to a close on Womxn’s History Month, I figured it would only make sense for me, a womxn, to write about why this month is important (and why womxn are great).

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

In the words of John Keating (played by Robin Williams) from Dead Poets’ Society. Okay, so yes – I am a little biased when it comes to poetry because I, myself, am a poet. But in this post, I’m going to tell you why college students (and honestly, everyone) should write poetry.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

I’m sure we’ve all joked about being broke. (Who hasn’t been the broke college student?) But as adults, we have to have some responsibility with money. And as we pass February and the following months, we will experience some type of drainage from our wallets. So, as I have done some seeking of ways to save money, I figured that I should pass down 5 tips that I think are super useful. These tips don’t need to go in order, but you can if you want!

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Certain foods are important for our bodies. We know that. Yet, college students (whether community college, college/university) are experiencing food insecurity. And while we may make self-deprecating jokes about it, in the end – it’s not that funny; it’s pretty serious. In a 2016 Los Angeles Times article, data revealed that 4 out of 10 students in the UC system did not have consistent healthy foods. An earlier study (based in University of Hawai’i) discovered that ~20% of their students would skip meals. Some of you might be saying, “Well, instant ramen is the way to go.” But no. It’s not. By eating these cheap, instant foods, you’re damaging your body and depriving it of the nutrients that it needs. So, I thought it be best to share some information on where you can get help/resources to aid your/others’ food insecurity.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Hi, all! I hope these first three weeks have been going well for you all and I wish you the best throughout the next several weeks! I wanted to write this post about a great experience I had this past weekend with El Centro Chicano. This past Sunday, on January 21st, 2018, I went to El Centro Chicano’s Latinx Student Empowerment Conference. This conference aimed to support the research, academic success, and social justice activism of USC students. Conferences such as these, and the overall organization, are open to current USC students - both undergraduate and graduate - and welcome new spring admits! They welcome & encourage USC Alumni to attend these conferences! And if I’m being completely honest…It was the best thing I have ever attended. The conference started off with a special guest speaker, Cristela Alonzo, comedian, actress, writer, and overall amazing human being.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

As we are going through Conquest week, and approaching our season ending (of course, with the exclusion of Pac-12/Bowl Game), I have been reflecting on my time here as a part of the TMB and will, in this article, tell you about my game days as a TMB member.

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Are you an art lover and enjoy listening to guest speakers who talk about their art? Then check out the many Roski Talks that are available on and at the Graduate Fine Arts Building (IFT)!

By: Lilly Kate Diaz ‘20

Hi, all! It’s been a while, and I’ve missed talking to you all! It’s midterms week (about to end, actually)! I want you all to remember that it is important to take care of your mental/physical health. I understand that it can be hard sometimes, especially with having to balance studying, classes, and whatnot, but please remember to check in with yourself! In fact, I’ve been taking time to myself as well. Below is a list of apps that can help relieve anxiety and stress. I’ve been using these apps for a while and most of them have been helpful! I recommend trying them out. I’ve included the links so that you all can check them out.