This is a guest blog entry written by Aaron Shields. If you want to read more stories, visit viterbiadmission.usc.edu/blacklives.
Hi! My name is Aaron Shields, and I am a Sophomore at USC. Currently I am on a Pre-Law track, pursuing a degree in Computer Science and Business Administration, and minoring in Spanish. I am also in the Thematic Option Honors Program. Although I was born in Colorado Springs, I spent much of my childhood living in and around Washington D.C. Being raised in Washington D.C. provided me with many opportunities as I participated in legal competitions, interned at the International Spy Museum, and worked to publish articles with professors at Howard University. I also had a strong sense of dedication toward my community and worked with S.H.A.R.E. food network to provide healthy, affordable food options to low-income communities in and around the city.
My love for coding began when I decided to form the Code & Chill Club after learning how to create games in a coding class. The club was dedicated toward providing students with a safe space to work on coding projects and create games. Over the years, the club grew to 50 or so members and hosted yearly competitions.
During high school, I played baseball and basketball. I was also President of the Black Student Association and oversaw the creation of the Physics Club. During my free time, I tutored children in low-income communities in subjects such as Algebra, Geometry, and Pre-Calculus.
”I hope to use my time at USC to find people who share my interests and work with them to change the world for the better.
I was drawn to USC because of the unique location and the desire to help low-income families in Los Angeles. This Summer, I worked at Home Depot while simultaneously interning at Aflac. Working these two jobs allowed me to see the difference between the corporate world and low-income lifestyle. My experiences over the summer led me to focus on projects that worked toward reducing income inequality. My goal is to create a program that studies which companies will most benefit low-income communities around the United States and encourage them to work with local governments to decrease income and health disparities in those communities.
In the meantime, I am currently studying hard and participating in my fair share of extracurriculars. I am an intern at the Dornsife School of Arts and Sciences, and a Senator with the National Society of Black Engineers. I hope to use my time at USC to find people who share my interests and work with them to change the world for the better.
