Four days a week, four hours a day — it seems like this is coming to an end. No more walking to the Village to do homework, no more crossing campus to get to EVK dining hall, no more playing around with the desks in the classrooms. Beyond reflecting on what I’ve learned through textbooks and podcasts, there’s also something I haven’t really talked about: my experience at USC.
As I walked across campus looking for the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism on the first day, so many things caught my attention. The Annenberg cafe, obviously. Just kidding, no — it was the sign that said, “Free Expression is central to USC’s mission.” I came into USC afraid. Afraid that I didn’t know enough about politics, afraid that I didn’t know how to use Premiere Pro well enough, afraid that I wouldn’t be able to keep up with everything. However, after just 3 weeks, I’ve come to realize that at USC, we’re here to learn. You’re not expected to walk into class knowing everything, you’re expected to walk in wanting to learn everything. Although I consider myself introverted in certain situations, I felt genuinely comfortable sharing my opinions and asking questions during my time at AYA. And that idea became even more prevalent when AYA alumni came to speak with us. It was truly fascinating to see how far they’ve gone, especially the ones graduating college and going off the amazing places to work. It’s hard to imagine, but also exciting to imagine, what my own college experience will look like in just a very short time.
Being here in person made it all feel real. I’ve spent so long learning about USC from afar, but walking the campus, seeing the signs, even getting lost at the Doheny library just trying to look for a restroom, made me realize how much I want to be part of this place. USC AYA truly helped me mark a new start. The lectures I’ve been a part of, the network I’ve built, and the experience I’ve gained are what I value the most from my time here.
After all, I realized that my fear wasn’t necessary. At least now I know that the next time I walk onto campus, I’ll be able to tell myself, “Just trust me—you’ll be fine.” Finishing this journal truly marks the end of my journey at AYA, but also the beginning of my future journey as I approach USC Annenberg again. Let’s all have the courage to fight on.
Work Cited: “End of Beginning” by Joe Keery
Communicating Change 