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.