First-generation USC student models herself after those who helped her succeed

Saianna Smith found her calling thanks to encouragement from teachers and mentors. Now the USC master’s student is helping others follow in her footsteps

Sometimes a few caring adults can make all the difference to a child’s future. USC student Saianna Smith is living proof.

Smith grew up with 10 brothers and sisters, and education wasn’t a priority in her South Los Angeles home, so she didn’t get a lot of individual attention. When a middle school English teacher insisted that she enroll in a USC program that would get her ready for college, she felt like someone believed in her potential. A door opened into another world.

She joined the Leslie and William McMorrow Neighborhood Academic Initiative (NAI), which helped her conquer subjects like trigonometry and English literature. The extra support paid off: She got into college and is now earning her master’s degree at USC.

“If I wasn’t involved in a college access program like NAI, I don’t think I’d be where I am today,” Smith said. “Most of the students who went to my high school didn’t have those same kinds of resources to get to college.”

Today, she is not only thinking about her own future, but also the future of other young people like her. She wants to open opportunities to others and become a guiding figure — like those who helped her thrive. When she finishes her degree in educational counseling at the USC Rossier School of Education this spring, Smith plans to work as an academic adviser in urban schools, supporting and encouraging boys and girls who grow up in challenging circumstances.

She is already getting plenty of firsthand experience as a special projects coordinator with NAI. She oversees summer programs, schedules classes, talks with parents and organizes orientation sessions. But the most rewarding part of her job is bonding with students.

“They kind of feel like a younger me,” she said. “Getting to connect with them, to let them know they can be in my position in 10 years, is really cool.”

College prep program offers path to better life for USC first-generation student

USC was a fixture in Smith’s childhood, much of which she spent with her family in an apartment just a block west of University Park Campus. The university became an even bigger part of her life when she began attending John Muir Middle School, south of USC. Her English teacher there, Joy O’Renick, saw promise in Smith and encouraged her to study subjects like math and literature through NAI.

The rigorous seven-year program prepares students from the neighborhoods around USC to gain admission to a college or university. Participants commit to after-school tutoring and Saturday morning classes on the University Park Campus. That was a tough sell for the young Smith in the beginning.

“I didn’t want to go to school on Saturdays,” she said. “I wanted to go to cheerleading and hang out with my friends.”

But her teacher insisted, showing up every weekend to drive her to USC after Smith moved farther from campus. Smith soon found she enjoyed the academic challenge and could balance her other interests, even becoming captain of the cheerleading squad.

By high school, she was helping raise her younger siblings. Because academics weren’t emphasized at home, there were no expectations she would attend college. But Smith stuck with the NAI program, receiving specialized instruction, after-school counseling and guidance with time management and study skills. Her two brothers and eight sisters became her motivation.

“I felt like I had to set the bar, so even if they don’t go to college, they know that it’s possible,” she said. Even now, photos of her siblings adorn her phone and computer screens. “When times are getting tough, I look to them. I’m doing it for them.”

Proud to be welcomed into the Trojan community

Smith graduated from NAI and entered the University of California, Irvine, where she continued to receive supportive services from NAI as she completed her undergraduate degree in education and African-American studies. She also found crucial encouragement from Jonli Tunstall, a mentor at her church who runs a college access program at UCLA.

Tunstall helped her through a few rough patches as an undergraduate, then welcomed Smith into her home while Smith worked as a college counselor at a middle school in Inglewood through an AmeriCorps program after college. She pressed Smith to look into earning a master’s degree and helped her apply to USC.

Smith was wary about taking on expensive student loans, but financial aid from USC Rossier convinced her to enroll. More support came when a board member at NAI told her about Town & Gown of USC, the university’s oldest women’s organization. The nonprofit provides $1.5 million in merit-based scholarships to local USC students each year. After Smith shared her inspiring story with Town & Gown, the organization awarded her a $10,000 annual scholarship toward tuition.

“I’m so thankful for the support,” she said. “I’m not taking anything for granted.”

She still gets chills when flashing her USC ID to get a student discount. She swells with pride when she brings her younger siblings to campus to help them get a feel for the university environment.

“On the first day of class last fall, I couldn’t get over it,” she said. “I’ve sat in this exact same classroom before, but now I’m a real Trojan. I don’t think I’ll ever get over the fact that I go to USC.”

Giving back to the village that raised her

Thanks to her positive experiences with education, Smith fell in love with academic advising. She is still figuring out whether to focus on promoting college access or advising college students. It’s something she plans to decide during her final year at USC. She envisions working in Southern California and potentially pursuing a PhD in urban education in a few years.

She has already proven invaluable to the college access program that helped her succeed, said Lizette Zarate, NAI’s program director. Although Smith was hired to manage NAI’s weekend and summer programs, she jumped at the opportunity to contribute in other ways.

“There isn’t a facet of the program she isn’t involved with,” Zarate said. “She is just remarkable.”

Smith engages with alumni, plans events, preps applications for review and checks in with students when they miss a class. She even helps out with Kinder 2 College, USC’s literacy program for local kids that starts in kindergarten.

“We knew she was exceptional, but having her work for us and getting to know her has shown us just how committed she is,” Zarate said. “When she commits to something, you can count on her being there wholeheartedly. We’re so proud of her.”

> Read the original USC News story.

USC sophomore middle blocker and USA Volleyball Junior National Team captain Sam Lewis is a force to be reckoned with on the volleyball court. He is also an openly-gay student-athlete. On National Coming Out Day (October 11, 2018), Lewis tells his coming out story and his journey of learning to love the person he is.

Medical school graduate is eager to advocate for underserved communities

Cory Johnson intends to help the vulnerable groups — immigrants, refugees, women of color and women in poverty — that don’t have a voice

For me, becoming a physician presents the opportunity to make a positive impact within my own community and the larger society within which we all live. My interest in medicine began when I was 11 years old. My father was injured in a work accident and experienced constant pain and paralysis — I still remember coming home from a family Christmas party to find him sitting in the exact same position I had left him hours before. Thanks to expert and dedicated care, he was able to walk again. It was definitely very motivating to see him regain much of his functionality. As a result of his injury, however, he also developed chronic disease which still impacts his life. Seeing how a very acute medical issue — despite being treated — can change someone’s health was also very motivating. Health doesn’t exist in a vacuum, and I want to be a physician with that perspective.

I studied history and science at Harvard, with a focus on medicine and society. We studied not just how medical inventions came to be, but how societal norms during different time periods directed which research was deemed worthy of funding, which medical interventions were created and who got access to health care.

Doctors should focus on the human aspect of patients

Science is very much subject to our cultural values. There’s this other side beyond all the data and lab work in science today — the human aspect. I want to live that experience, and health care is a great way to do that. In college, I had the privilege of working with an organization called Health Leads, which provides social services to patients at Boston Medical Center. I was placed in the newborn nursery. Many of the moms who had just given birth were what we call underserved patients: immigrants, refugees, local women of color and women in poverty.

I continued similar work after graduating from college. Through the Harvard Center for Public Interest Careers, I landed a postgraduate fellowship as a case manager at Montefiore Medical Center in the Bronx — a very high-needs, low-resource and high crime area. A case manager provides patients access to social resources that can help with whatever they’re going through. We work closely with social workers. I was 23 at the time, and I don’t think many 23-year-olds are prepared for that level of intense engagement with health, disease and how it intersects with our social factors.

My time at Montefiore defined my goal: become not just a doctor, but a doctor who is actually doing something about what we call the social determinants of health and health equity. As physicians, we have the platform and privilege to advocate for communities — like the USC community in Boyle Heights — who don’t typically have a voice. Our community has a very strong spirit, but also a lot of strife often invisible to others. As a physician, if I can manage to get someone into an addiction program, but they experience domestic violence and severe poverty, then can I really expect them to be successful in their recovery? The only way we, as physicians, can be effective is if we pay attention to the interconnectedness of these issues.
Coming to USC was definitely the right choice for me. The Trojan Family spirit is real. Here, upperclassmen give their books away and share notes to those following behind them. We bring food to our friends on a 28-hour shift on trauma surgery in the hospital. We call our friends to make sure they’re OK. We take care of each other.

Asking the proper questions

The social aspects of medicine have received a lot more attention lately. They are very much within our purview, and we should address them. Clinics, medical centers and school-based clinics are hubs for people to go to. We have a chance to intervene during vulnerable periods of their lives, not just through surgery, but through intervening in the social aspects as well. Case managers, social workers, mental health professionals, everyone who can make an impact — medicine is the center through which we can do that. It starts by just asking our patients, “You’re having trouble sticking to your medications. Is there anything else going on?” To be able to ask that question and follow up is very important.

The hard truth is that, historically, medicine hasn’t always treated disadvantaged patient populations with the respect and compassion that they deserve. So now we have communities who still do not trust physicians and it is with good reason. Plenty of history books have been written about exploitation of minority communities, exploitation in which physicians were complicit. We may not remember, but they do.

We now have the opportunity and the responsibility to rectify that. We as physicians need to see ourselves not as separate from the communities we serve, but as part of those communities. We need to approach them with humility and respect. At each stage of my training — Harvard, Boston Medical Center, Montefiore and USC — I’ve learned that we all have implicit biases, myself included, and we need to be aware of them. We need to understand how our communities work. We need to care about their overall well-being. We need to advocate for them. We really need to become a part of the community.

This historical, paternalistic model of medicine has given way to doctors who act as guides, providing patients all the information they need and helping them make decisions. It’s not a one-way conversation anymore. We need to humble ourselves enough to understand and even respect a patient who says, “I understand, but no thank you” to a treatment option.

The other part of building relationships with communities is showing up and standing up for them. Advocacy will always be an important part of my career. Even as a student, I participated in groups that met with legislators to tell them about social issues we saw in our communities that affect health, and to hold them accountable to do something about it.

My mentors at USC really helped to foster my interest in advocacy and to develop the skillset necessary to be an effective advocate. Specifically, Michael Cousineau in preventive medicine was my advisor while I pursued a master’s in public health here. He taught me how to analyze policies, communicate with stakeholders — hospital management, legislators — and how to look past the data to find the story behind a piece of legislation.

After graduation, I head up to San Francisco, which has its own underserved communities in need of advocates. I’ll always be a Trojan, though. USC’s faculty, staff and my fellow students encouraged my fervor and strengthened it with the education and experience I needed. I’ll be staying in touch with them because another thing I learned here is that to really change things, one “physician with a perspective” isn’t enough. It takes all of us.

Cory Johnson is a fourth-year student from Florida at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. He will be completing his residency in family medicine at the University of California, San Francisco. He spoke with Paul Boutin of USC News.

> Read the original story from USC News

Marine learns firsthand how veteran-friendly USC is — and makes it even more so

Jeremy Fricke has worked to enhance benefits for student veterans, expand veterans’ networking and more.

USC senior Jeremy Fricke wasn’t sure what to do after finishing high school in a town of 5,000.

“It’s a two-stoplight town in Minnesota, and I wanted to get out and figure out my future, so I joined the Marine Corps,” he said.

Fricke served eight years as a chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear defense specialist, teaching Marines how to prepare and respond to events of mass destruction, such as nuclear or chemical warfare attacks.

The experience piqued his interest in the biological impact such agents can have on the human body and, ultimately, his desire to study medicine. He was at community college when the Marine Corps’ Leadership Scholar program offered to send his transcripts and test scores to universities for him.

“I tried USC on a whim, but I thought it was a long shot,” he said. “When I heard back that I was qualified, it was amazing. I immediately put all my eggs in that basket, did a campus tour and fell in love and applied that day.”

USC military veterans and comrades in arms

The camaraderie of the student veteran community at USC was evident to Fricke even before classes began.

“The USC Veterans Association presented at orientation, and afterward a group of about 10 of us went across the street to The Lab, and we really clicked,” he said. “They were the people I leaned on for support during my first year because I was new to the area.”

He found that the network extended across campus to include staff, numerous student groups including the coed veteran fraternity Omega Delta Sigma and an administration that actively supports veterans.

“We have a great support network here,” he said, “so it’s an environment that’s really welcoming.”

Fricke also saw ways to enhance benefits for student veterans at USC, efforts he undertook as president of the USC Veterans Association during his sophomore year.

The biology major and health care studies minor worked with the association’s adviser, retired Gen. David Petraeus, to expand tuition coverage through the Yellow Ribbon Scholarship and give student veterans priority registration. Petraeus connected Fricke to senior USC administrators, such as Vice Provost for Academic Operations Mark Todd, who helped him turn the proposals into policy.

Tying a bow on the Yellow Ribbon program

Today, any veteran who is admitted to USC and eligible for the GI Bill is guaranteed full tuition coverage through the Yellow Ribbon program. Additionally, USC veterans can now register for courses before students with the highest number of earned credits.

Fricke is also recognized for increasing outreach and recruitment of veterans to USC during his tenure by initiating a program to encourage community college vets to transfer to the university.

“Since community colleges are set up for transferring to UCs or Cal States, these veterans weren’t getting the information they needed about USC,” he said. “I wanted veterans to know their Yellow Ribbon coverage is unlimited here, and that USC is affordable to them and it’s an amazing place for veterans.”

Relationships make a difference

Brandon Wexler, a veteran Master at Arms, was studying at Harbor College when he went to one of the first veteran transfer lunches.

“USC is the only school I ever wanted to go to, and at the lunch I learned that USC is a really military-friendly school,” he said. “We met so many people who support us — from financial aid to the veterans resource center, and those relationships helped a lot.”

Now a junior at USC majoring in cognitive science and linguistics, Wexler added, “My experience has always been that whenever I reach out to administration or to faculty here, people go out of their way to help and actively get the ball rolling.”

USC currently has 192 undergraduates and 851 graduate students who are veterans or active duty.

“Jeremy brought exceptional leadership skills to his role as president of the Student Veterans Association — leadership skills that were forged in his service for our country,” said Todd, who oversees university programs for veterans. “He is a role model for prior enlisted veterans who I know share his continuing commitment to serving others as a civilian. Jeremy was instrumental in creating access to USC for other veterans and for making the transition to USC easier.”

Fricke’s favorite moment at USC

Fricke said his favorite USC moment was letting his parents see Trojan support for veterans for themselves. They flew out from Minnesota to attend the first USC home game of the 2016 football season, for which Fricke was honored as student veteran of the game. But he kept that a surprise.

“Before kickoff, during the national anthem, they announced my name and put my photo on the Jumbotron,” he said. “My parents and I were brought onto the field, and they just burst into tears with pride.

“It was definitely a highlight to show them how great USC was to me and the veteran community,” added Fricke, who has his sights set on medical school after graduation. “They really felt part of the Trojan Family then.”

> Read the original story from USC News

Engineering student helps high schoolers’ aerospace dreams take flight — starting with paper planes

USC Viterbi junior runs a competition that could turn a teen’s career path toward science

The 11th-graders toed the chalk line, cradling paper airplanes before launching them over the courtyard at Von KleinSmid Center on the USC University Park Campus. Cheers and groans followed as each handmade aircraft soared and plummeted to the concrete.

USC junior Leslie Guandique darted out to the farthest landing and marked the winning distance at 142 feet.

“I haven’t been able to fly one past 30 feet,” the USC Viterbi School of Engineering student later confessed. “So it was surprising to see the students did so well. I was really impressed.”

The creative competition was the brainchild of Guandique, who wanted to give high schoolers in the Viterbi Adopt-a-School, Adopt-a-Teacher (VAST) program a real and interactive experience in aerospace engineering.

She even gave their teachers a math challenge beforehand to help them introduce the concepts, asking each young contender to submit documentation on the process and reasoning for the construction of their paper plane.

“I wanted to give them an idea of what it is like to think like an engineer.”

Guandique said outreach programs like VAST are vital to give science-inclined students the chance to explore the many different STEM fields. It’s an opportunity the Alhambra native didn’t have as a youth obsessed with science yet uninformed about how to turn her passion into a profession.

“I knew I loved science but never had guidance in high school about classes and extracurriculars I needed to take,” she said. “I didn’t get the exposure to what was out there or get to talk to engineers and ask them questions.

“These outreach programs actually make a huge difference in someone’s career path.”

The daughter of an El Salvadoran refugee and a Mexican immigrant, Guandique said her parents encouraged her fascination with the field.

“My mom didn’t know a lot about science, but she took me to the California Science Center a lot. I would watch Star Trek with my dad from a very young age. I thought it was so cool, and would start reading more about it. … Honestly, it’s probably because of Star Trek.”

Summer STEM research

It was another STEM outreach program at USC that gave her the jumpstart she needed in the field. While at East Los Angeles College pushing toward a transfer to USC, Guandique landed a spot in the USC Summer STEM Research Experience program. That work in a research lab later allowed her to qualify for an internship at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory.

But her road to USC was hard-fought. Guandique said she never wanted to go to any other school, and her earliest fond memories involve snapping photos with her mom in front of Tommy Trojan. Her high school grades, however, were not up to par, and she spent three years working and studying feverishly in hopes of making up for it.

When it was time to transfer, she was received with welcoming arms by the University of California, San Diego, but heard nothing from her “dream university.”

“I was attending a lecture at Caltech and remember telling myself, ‘I’ll be OK if I don’t get into USC. UCSD and experimental physics will just be my life, and that’s OK,’” Guandique recalled. “Then I checked my phone and had 100 messages from my mom saying, ‘There’s a package from USC! Can I open it?’

“I just broke down in the lecture hall. I was on the ground, crying, in front of the auditorium. I didn’t think I could go to my dream university, and all the emotions just poured out right there. It was intense.”

Space and schoolwork

Guandique is now an enthusiastic astronautical engineering major at the USC Viterbi School of Engineering who proclaims, “I love space!” When she isn’t doing schoolwork or helping guide youth in science, technology, engineering and math, she’s building a miniature Rover at home or powerlifting at the Lyon Center.

She has support and guidance from faculty mentors like USC Professor Lowell Stott and mentorship programs like the Viterbi Student-Alumni Mentoring Program, which matched her with alumna Sarah Hester ’12, a project engineer at Aerojet Rocketdyne.

Guandique said she feels right at home at her dream university at last.

“People here are so good at making you feel a part of things and bringing you in. Whenever I met people from USC, they were always more welcoming than other people. Now I can see why. It comes from the culture of USC, and it’s really nice.”

First-generation workshops help students settle into college life

USC is increasing resources for students in their family’s first generation to attend college, including support with academic planning and making social connections

The transition to college can be bumpy for any student, but especially those in the first generation of their family to attend a university.

Students take rigorous classes while adjusting to living on their own, navigate financial aid and class registration and sometimes hold down a part-time job — all without a built-in support system that many take for granted.

“The challenge with being first-generation is that I had no idea what college would be like, and I couldn’t ask my parents what it was like for them,” said Kierra Valdez-McClure, a freshman at USC. “They never went to college or lived on campus in a residence hall. I really didn’t know what to expect. I was so stressed.”

To ease that stress, USC now offers a new series of first-generation college student programs for both incoming freshmen and transfer students. The seminars, titled First-Generation Success Workshops, provide personalized attention and guidance to help first-generation students access services, said Jessica Frey, director of student development programs in USC’s Division of Enrollment Services.

“We do have a lot of resources, but at such a big school, it often seems like it is up to the student to be proactive about utilizing resources, getting involved, finding their community and asking for help,” she said. “I’ve heard from many students about this sense of fear that they are the only ones feeling this way — that they feel they aren’t ready or they are the only ones having a challenging experience.”

The new workshops reduce that perception by highlighting the many support services provided for incoming students and ensuring that asking for help isn’t viewed as a sign of weakness, she said. Participants also hear from current first-gen students at USC about their experiences adjusting to college life and how to avoid common pitfalls.

“It’s one thing to be told, ‘This is what to expect,’” Frey said. “It’s another thing to be in it. We want to help these students while they are living and breathing in this new experience.”

New first-generation college student programs promote study and social skills

Attendees receive guidance with academic planning, getting involved with campus groups, finding career-boosting internships and connecting with other first-gen students. The university is testing the new workshops with 65 students this year. If they prove popular, Frey said the program could be expanded to accommodate the large population of first-gen scholars at USC.

It’s a group that has more than doubled in size in the past few decades. First-generation students now account for 1 in 5 undergraduates, along with more than 7,000 graduate students. And although they might face unique challenges, Frey said they also bring strengths like determination and adaptability.

“I’ve met a lot of first-generation students who are used to being advocates for themselves — standing up for themselves, looking out for what they need,” she said. “They are definitely resilient and have a strong work ethic.”

Those qualities certainly apply to Valdez-McClure. She describes herself as goal oriented, and she is committed to maintaining strong grades at USC. The Orange, Calif., native is studying health promotion and disease prevention with plans to attend medical school. She said the new workshop series gives her confidence that she will have access to the tools she needs to achieve her academic and career goals.

“USC is really community-based and wants to help us,” Valdez-McClure said. “If I need it, they will give me resources to put me on the right path to succeed.”

Learning about USC resources

During the first workshop in the new series, students learned about academic support services provided by the USC Kortschak Center for Learning and Creativity. The center offers academic coaching, workshops and consultations on topics like time management and study skills.

Attendees also discussed how to plan out their semester, including developing a calendar system to ensure they complete assignments on time and are ready for exams.

Hieu Nguyen said he found it useful to receive guidance on completing classes required for his interdisciplinary major in physics and computer science. A native of Vietnam, he transferred to USC after two years at a community college in Chicago. He said it can be challenging to track down information about course requirements, so he is glad to see the university providing more outreach and guidance to first-gen students.

“There are a lot of resources that can help me, I just have to find them,” said Nguyen, who added “I’m interested in connecting with someone, finding a mentor to get information on how to finish my major.”

During the new workshops, staff members and student workers from the Division of Enrollment Services are stationed throughout the room and available to assist students with specific questions. Many already participated in specialized orientation sessions over the summer for incoming first-gen freshmen.

Mia Esquivel is one of those student workers, and she knows all about the challenges faced by first-generation students. As the first member of her family to attend a four-year college, she said it was tricky to navigate the application and financial aid process with her parents.

“We kind of just had to figure that out together,” she said. “My parents didn’t know too much about that process, so it was definitely a learning experience.”

Now that she has settled in at USC, as a sophomore studying psychology, she is excited to be involved with orientation and first-gen support services to help incoming classmates.

“Tiny issues can make a big different in how stressed out you might be,” Esquivel said. “If I can just help a little bit, be a mentor or just be there for someone to ask questions, I want to do that.”

Workshops complement other services

These new workshops are part of a broader slate of first-generation student resources provided at USC, including a mentor program and an annual summit for first-gen students. The university’s student body also offers scholarships geared toward first-gen students and those from the neighborhoods surrounding USC through the Norman Topping Student Aid Fund.

The increasing emphasis on providing support to first-gen students is encouraging to Victoria Nunez, who transferred to USC this year from Santa Monica City College to study communication. She said it can be difficult to build connections with fellow students, so she is looking forward to an upcoming workshop on getting involved with student groups and accessing other services at the USC Career Center.

“Networking can be challenging,” Nunez said. “Coming in and not knowing anybody makes it a little harder. That’s why events like these are so important. I’m looking for guidance to help me find out more about resources on campus and organizations to join.”

> Read the original story from USC News

What did you do when you first found out you got in to USC?

My parents surprised me with the envelope while we were eating dinner at a restaurant, so I tried not to make a big commotion, but needless to say I was ecstatic! I told some of my closest friends right away.

What are you most excited to learn/do/experience/etc. while at USC?

I’m most excited to find what I am truly passionate about and to be able to pursue that passion. USC offers so many opportunities to explore your interests, and I’m looking forward to branching out and expanding my worldview. I also hope to take full advantage of living close to the beach.

What is one thing you brought with you to USC that means the most to you?

It’s hard to pick just one thing! I’m not a very decorative person, so I didn’t bring a lot of things to decorate my dorm room with. However, some of my best friends from home gave me pictures of them to put up and remember them by. They’re all set-up in a corner of my room, and I get a warm reminder of home every time I see them.

What piece of advice you were given about starting that you’ll follow?

Some of the best advice I was told going into college was to methodically take time out of my day to be alone and reflect. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed in college, but the moments throughout my day that I set aside to be alone help me stay grounded and concentrated on what’s truly important to me.

What do you think/hope you’ll be like four years from now?

I think it’s hard, if not impossible, to accurately predict where I’ll be 4 years from now. Right now, I’m trying to take it one week at a time. However, no matter what GPA or job offers I have, I hope that I’m content and doing something that I love.

Woody Shin, a Mork Scholar and computer science major, was born in Korea and raised in Alabama. He founded his high school paper and won several state awards before joining USC’s Class of 2022.

What did you do when you first found out you got in to USC?

While I was driving to my swim practice, my mom called me and said that a big envelope came in the mail from USC. I had to pull over because I was shaking from excitement when she told me that it was an acceptance letter. I was especially shocked because I was informed of my acceptance several months earlier than the regular decision date, because I was being considered for a scholarship. It was hard to focus on anything else during my swim practice.

What are you most excited to learn/do/experience/etc. while at USC?

I am really excited about taking classes in my major’s curriculum, which is Business of Cinematic Arts. I like the idea of majoring in Business because it’s practical and applicable, while the Cinematic Arts side will satisfy my creative and artistic needs. I hope to work behind the scenes on student films and maybe intern somewhere in Hollywood.

What is one thing you brought with you to USC that means the most to you?

I brought a stuffed lion that my best friend bought me for my birthday right before I moved to USC. It’s special because I am a Leo, and it reminds me of my friends from home (and it’s cute and soft).

What piece of advice you were given about starting college that you’ll follow?

Someone told me to say yes to every opportunity during the first few weeks of college, which has already created so many great memories for me. Since move-in-day, I have been to the Santa Monica Pier twice, the Melrose Trading Post, two rooftops, had a guacamole making party, and learned how to juggle.

What do you think/hope you’ll be like four years from now?

After graduating, I hope to have a job lined up in the business side of the entertainment industry, possibly in music management or film production. Truthfully, I hope my personality won’t change too much, rather, I hope that it is enhanced by new experiences, insight, and travels.

Trey Spellman, a Stamps Scholar majoring in business with an emphasis in cinematic arts, says he aims to show the world that the loudest ideas are not the best ideas. The self-identified introvert has even led seminars and created curriculum to educate his peers about misconceptions around introversion.

What did you do when you first found out you got in to USC?

I was actually in Chicago with my dad visiting Chicago and Northwestern at the time. I had decided to apply to USC sort of on a whim when I realized it was a QuestBridge school, and I hadn’t realized that I had applied by the merit scholarship deadline. My mom Facetimed me when my dad and I were driving back to our hotel and said that I’d gotten a package from USC, and assuming it was a t-shirt or poster like it always was from every other school, I told her to go ahead and open it. When she realized what is was she started crying, I started crying, and then my dad started crying which made both my mother and I cry even harder. It was my first admittance and it was to a school I didn’t really expect to get into, let alone to get a scholarship from, and it was really overwhelming in the best way.

What are you most excited to learn/do/experience/etc. while at USC?

I’m really excited for a lot of things. Football games, exploring LA, and really getting the chance to immerse myself in the Trojan Family. I tend to be a people person and love meeting new people. Going to football games, joining different orgs, and going to different events to meet alumni who are still excited about ‘SC even after graduating is a testament to how deep the Family runs, which is one of the reasons I came to SC in the first place.

What is one thing you brought with you to USC that means the most to you?

I have a bunch of photo canvases on my wall with pictures of my best friends and family members. I’m from Maryland and most of my family is still on the east coast, and the memory of the people I know love me and are still supporting me from across the country keeps me motivated.

What piece of advice you were given about starting college that you’ll follow?

Finding a balance between personal time and work is essential. At a breakfast I went to during welcome week an alumni, John Mork, recommended treating our week schedules like work schedules and trying to put in at least 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day Monday through Friday. While it sounds like a lot, I’m here to develop into the most successful person I can be, and that starts with schoolwork. It also leaves me weekends stress-free so I can go to football games which I am also really excited for, and to take time for myself to relax and enjoy my college experience.

What do you think/hope you’ll be like four years from now?

I hope to be fully confident in myself and in the skills I develop for my career field. As a business major, self-confidence is going to be key in exercising leadership, interacting with people, and (hopefully) running organizations one day. I know that Marshall will give me the tools I need to become as successful as I can be, and I plan on working toward making sure my confidence and positive mentality match it.

Jaya Hinton, a Mork Scholar from Maryland, is passionate about social justice, medicine and the sciences. The American Studies and Ethnicity major says she is very eager to get involved in community service in the surrounding USC community.