By: Camila Grases ‘21

As everyone starts to settle into a constant routine — to class, back home, eat at this dining hall or that one, take the same route there and back every time — it’s really easy to miss some of the amazing things USC has to offer. If you really take a look around, you might find some pretty amazing things that will make you realize USC is full of history, good or bad, that’s worth taking a look at. I have compiled a list of some neat places you should visit while you are here, so grab a friend and take a look around!

By: Camila Grases ‘21

Welcome to all the newest additions to our campus! During these first few weeks, perhaps you have started to feel as though you aren’t so welcome here, maybe if it’s because people already have groups of friends, a routine, an understanding of campus. If you are an introvert like me, this sentiment is probably even worse, the size of the university may be overwhelming. But do not worry, all your peers who seem like they have got it down were once in your position. My hope is that by the end of this post you feel welcome and you feel like you have a place here. It’s gonna take work but it’s worth it.

By: Sophia Pei ‘22 and Camila Grases ‘21

Ah, good old finals are approaching. We know this can be a stressful time, but don’t fret. Here are some tips on end-of-the-semester stress management we’ve learned during our time here. We hope this information is just as helpful to you as it is to us.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

Not many people know what dragon boat is. I didn’t either before I tried out. Little freshman me was looking for a cool new sport to try out, and when I read the word “dragon”, I was sold. Now, I can’t imagine having done anything different.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

This past Thursday, November 1st, was the opening reception to the small yet wonderful exhibition of Roski senior Ankita Mukherji. As an artist that specializes in clay sculptures, Ankita is able to transform her medium into art that is deeply meaningful to herself. Part of her statement at the reception spoke about the ways in which she used her memory and her feelings to create “the objects and spaces that we call home.” From the moment you walk into her exhibit, you are immediately impacted by her work. Suddenly, her intentions are clear.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

I commute to USC. It’s about a 45 minute to an hour drive to and from my house. “Aw thats so sad, you aren’t getting the FULL college experience.” Oh hush hush now. It’s not sad. I wake up every morning in my own bed, my mom makes me breakfast in morning, and when I get home late, there is almost always food waiting for me (or for my brothers, but who am I to complain?). It’s really not so bad. There are definitely days where I wish I could live here, and have roommates and be able to stay late without having the fact that I have to drive home be in the back of my mind always. But I think having the constant support from my family has helped with my mental stability so much. Of course, there are commuters that don’t still live with their parents and whose experience is so different from mine. And there are students that don’t feel the same way about their parents. I’m just here to share a little bit of wisdom I learned from commuting for a full year now.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

We all know this time of the semester can be stressful. Midterms around every corner, your work throughout the whole semester is culminating suddenly. Sometimes, the best thing we can do for ourselves and our mental health is step away from these stressful situations and take some time to allow ourselves to be transported to different worlds. Here is a list of some of my favorite movies to watch based on the moods and anxiety you might be feeling. Of course, as with anything, this is my own list. These are movies that I love, regardless of whether they are considered “good” or not. All I can hope is that this inspires a movie session or two.

By: Camila Grases ‘21

Listen, there are two kinds of people in this world: (1) The “I’ve been on thousands of night hikes, I basically have night vision, and darkness is my friend” person or (2) The “I enjoy the night from the comfort of my own home, nature is definitely nice but maybe not when I’m outside, because there may be ghosts here” person. Honestly, I’m the second. I am afraid of the dark (just scared of a lot of things really), so when my team brought up the idea of a night hike, I was a bit hesitant. The more I thought about it, though, the more excited I got. Sometimes, it’s the things we are most afraid of that give us the most pleasure. Compared to other thrill-seeking events, hiking is a relatively mundane activity. If you really think about it, it’s just glorified walking. So, we add a little spice. Go at night, in the hills of LA, to watch a city that is more beautiful in the dark than it is in the light. Trust me, it’s worth it.