I’ve always been an anxious girl, and being in a new environment with new people I have never met before only added to my unease. Thankfully no one here is a bully! I still struggled with pushing myself out of my comfort zone and didn’t end up talking as much as I wanted to, nonetheless …
Category Archives: Reflections2025
Reflecting on New Experiences With Media
This week was the first week of AYA at USC. As someone who seeks to pursue a career that involves much communication, I have been looking forward to the start of this program since I was accepted. Having this opportunity allowed me to gain more insight on the concepts of communication and journalism—although it has …
First Week of Summer and I’m back in Class
My first week at AYA has gone better than I nervously anticipated. I was able to interact with my friendly peers and form new bonds. But let’s turn back the clock for a moment… After applying to MANY summer programs and getting rejection after rejection, my hopes were slowly diminishing. The repeated emails starting with …
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Media, Messages and Megan Telles: My Week One at USC Annenberg 2025
Jitters flooded my stomach as my phone’s navigator guided me through the USC campus, and after just a few minutes of walking from Downey Way, there it was—the Annenberg building. Opening the doors, I was quickly greeted by my two smiling professors, and after a light breakfast, we were introduced to an icebreaker. Typically dreading …
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Bingo to Business: My First Week at AYA
Bingo. Everyone’s favorite game. Said no one ever. My first day at the Annenberg Youth Academy began very stressfully. When I first arrived in the Annenberg building, I was incredibly nervous to meet everyone. Like many others, I didn’t know what to expect. But my first challenge—meeting new people. This has always proved to be …
Communication, Representation, and the Stories that Shape Us
Stepping on the train at Expo and Crenshaw I had a slight unease about what this program would have in store for me. I was excited for the weeks to come like one would be excited to ride a new ride at Six Flags, which is to say I had no idea what would be …
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First Week at AYA: Unpacking Media
I truly did not know what to expect when starting at USC Annenberg Youth Academy — what I did know was that I’d be taught by skilled professors, enhancing my knowledge on matters I’m already passionate about learning. My first week at AYA proved to be a true reflection of this, and has allowed me …
A Personal Exordium
Every story begins at a single, focused point. Like many stories, mine as an Annenberg Youth Academy student has a linear narrative: a beginning, a middle, and an end. My focus point is at the beginning—my first week at Annenberg. If I had to describe my new experience as an Annenberg Youth Academy student, it …
Ready? Set, Go!!! First Week at the AYA Program
Why did I apply for the AYA program? Spending my summer for 3 weeks at USC and being part of classes that are going to be boring and with people I don’t even know. These are the thoughts that went through my head during my application process. As I felt nervous about how the AYA …
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“What is your passion?” – Megan Telles
My first day at Annenberg Youth Academy felt short but impactful. We started class with a guest speaker, Megan Telles, a reporter and news anchor at KTLA 5. She asked us all what our passion was. My peers began sharing things like music, debate, talking to people, etc. I didn’t know how to articulate my …
Communicating Change 