Random Post 2
The End of my USC Chapter
Already, the end of the year is approaching us. I can’t believe how fast time flew by! It feels like my freshman year happened in the span of a month. Although for most people at USC, they take the end of freshman year as just the beginning, it feels a little bit like the end for me. For those that don’t remember, this is because I am moving to Hong Kong next year for my program, World Bachelor in Business. While there are many things I am anticipating, there are also many things I am going to miss about USC. I am going to outline all my favorite things about USC as a reflection, and then finish by telling you all the things I'm looking forward to.
My Favorite Things About USC
The Campus
Although USC is not in an ideal location, the campus is just beautiful. I don’t anticipate that my future universities will be able to beat it. I love how USC keeps to the aesthetic of red and cream stone while still exploring different types of architecture. I walk past the film school often and it’s so pretty to look at. I also like how the campus is flat. It’s easy to walk on and alleviates my slight anxiety around hills (I’m still not sure why they scare me). Campus is compact and easy to navigate. Everything you need is in one place. Even our football stadium is nearby. I feel bad for UCLA students that have to travel far to their stadium. In addition, The Village is awesome and overall, USC campus has a lot to offer.
The Food
While this might be an unpopular opinion, I think USC meal plans are really good. With our meal swipes, we are able to get all kinds of different foods. Even though we are paying for these swipes, it feels like free food. And I like anything that’s free. I’m going to miss Fertitta Cafe a lot. The salmon bowls, the bibimbap, the passion fruit green tea, and all the snacks will be remembered. I also like the breakfast that the dining halls provide, the bistro at Parkside, and the tacos from RTC. And you can’t forget about my iced caramel latte with oat milk from LiteraTea. Overall, there’s so much variety in the meal plan and I am going to miss the huge convenience it was to me. However, I am also ready to eat my classic favorites at home over summer.
The People
Definitely the biggest reason I am going to miss USC is because of the people here! I’ve built up a tiny community throughout my year at USC, and I am going to miss my friends dearly. I gotten pretty lucky with my roommates, as they’ve been some of my closest friends here. I also have some really great friends outside of my roommates, and make new friends frequently. It’s sad to know that those relationships will probably not go far because of the lack of time here. However, I’m still grateful to have made the relationships that I did and feel so motivated by the people around me. One thing that I genuinely did not expect USC to improve was my motivation and ambition when it comes to school. Having driven friends around me encourages me to push myself to be the best version of myself that I can be, so I’m really thankful that I’ve been positively influenced by the students on campus.
Exploring California
Lastly, I have loved exploring California this semester. Last semester, I got more acquainted with campus life, but this semester, I made it my goal to see as much of California as possible. I made a list of all my to-do’s. So far, I’m proud of how many things I was able to check off and how much fun I had while doing it. The idea of this list was definitely the best thing I did all semester. It’s reminded me to prioritize life experiences and that it’s okay to sacrifice some money on things like this. Getting to experience California, which I’ve found to be such a pretty state, has been amazing to do with my college friends.
Things To Anticipate
While it’s going to be sad to say goodbye and I’m going to miss my friends dearly, there is so much to look forward to and the semester is not over yet! I’m excited to go home and see all my friends and family who I haven’t seen all semester. In addition, getting to move to Hong Kong and live in Asia for a year while I’m in college is an opportunity that I’m so grateful to have. While there are some cons associated with the WBB program, I am so thankful and happy to be in this program because getting to travel and learn new languages and cultures is one of my biggest passions in life. I’m ready to welcome this new chapter in my life and enjoy the end of the present one. Here's to a good end to my semester.
Hello Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI had some friends my freshman year who were in the WBB program as well and I always thought it sounded like an amazing opportunity to get to experience other cultures and parts of the world. They were Italian so USC was abroad for them and I think they stayed in Milan for their fourth year. I like that you made a checklist of things to do in LA. I am doing a similar thing right now so if you have any recommendations of must-must dos then please let me know in these comments or in class. I hope you find in Hong Kong all the things you loved here in Los Angeles and more.
Ethan
Hey Brooke!
ReplyDeleteI really enjoyed reading your post! I also really love the USC campus, even if we are more lucky to have classes in the newer Fertitta Hall. I remember back in my freshman year, the meal plan was drastically different. Instead of swipes, we would have unlimited access to the 3 dining halls. Honestly, I don't know which I would prefer. Swipes allow for more flexibility in food options, but I used to go into the dining halls to just grab a banana or refill my water, which wouldn't be really worth it with swipes. I wish you the best of luck in Hong Kong!
Bryan
Hey Brooke,
ReplyDeleteIt was really nice reading your post. As someone who has quite a tumultuous time at USC and am now finishing my first contiguous year actually at the University, I haven't taken much time to reflect on my experiences here. You're really lucky to have the opportunity to explore other universities, and I'm sure there will be things you love about some and things you'll miss about USC. Whatever happens, having the perspective you've gained from a year here will definitely give you a great point of comparison for everything abroad.
Kevin
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteThanks for sharing with us about your personal USC experience. Sadly enough everyone's time at USC comes to an end eventually and most, if not all of us are probably sad that our time has come to an end. However, USC has given everyone experiences that they probably wouldn't changed and will always cherish forever. Like you, I am appreciative for my USC experience and do not want it to end. Have fun in your schooling overseas!
-Etienne
Hi Brooke.
ReplyDeleteTo say that I can relate would be an understatement. WBB definitely has its pros and cons. I'm glad you were able to find things that you love at USC. I agree the people will definitely be the hardest part of leaving, but I think relationships can stay strong through intentional communication. My mentor said to me that the ability to miss many aspects of USC just show that you truly had a fulfilling experience. One more month left for us, yet there is so much left to do!
Best,
Lesley
Hi Brooke,
ReplyDeleteI loved reading your post! My post was about my years at USC coming to an end. Im glad that your first year here has been great. Trust me when I say to enjoy every single day here at USC, the years will go by so fast. It's awesome that you're going to Hong Kong for a year, I assume for a year. You get to experience new things and will meet new people. USC will welcome you with open arms when you get back.
-Angel Perez