As someone who isn’t on financial aid, I’m incredibly grateful for the non-work-study opportunities USC offers for on-campus jobs — some don’t even feel like jobs! For example, I’m a course producer for two electrical engineering classes I took last fall: EE 141 (Applied Linear Algebra for Engineering) and EE 155 (Introduction to C++). There’s a lot of truth to the idea that you truly learn when you try to explain concepts to others. I attend lab sessions to help with coding and problem-solving, and I hold drop-in peer mentoring sessions for students. They say you forget 70% of what you learn if you don’t use it regularly, but these roles have helped me retain key concepts from last year that I definitely would have otherwise forgotten!
Another role I have that feels more like fun than work is being a Freshman Academy Coach for ENGR 102. It’s a fantastic opportunity to connect with freshmen from all different engineering majors and serve as a mentor, all while building a sense of community. I find myself learning a lot from them too!
Outside of structured jobs, there’s so much room to grow and experiment. For instance, as a member of Makers, I get to bring ideas to life, from concept to minimum viable product. This year, I’m part of a project called Karate Kid, where we’re designing an interactive game that teaches self-defense. It’s incredibly fulfilling to create something from scratch just for the joy of building and learning. Plus, the advice and networking opportunities from experienced mentors are invaluable.
Through IEEE, I got to participate in a HackIoT event where my team built a Piano Tiles game using hardware components like Arduino, speakers, buttons, and an LCD panel. IEEE also provides amazing networking and workshop opportunities with companies and alumni, which are super helpful as I explore future internships and career paths.
All in all, I’d say my experiences outside the classroom are just as enriching as those inside — and I’m excited for what’s next!
