Without a doubt, college can be a daunting experience. From wherever you call home, moving to USC and finding your purpose and space within an undergraduate pool of over 20,000 students is a beautiful yet nerve-wracking experience. For me, moving to USC from Maui was filled with a ton of worry that I would struggle finding the people that would make USC my second home. Now, as a sophomore, I can confidently call USC my home away from home. How did this happen? The simple answer: STUDENT ORGANIZATIONS!
To keep things rather brief, I will highlight a few of my favorite clubs / organizations that I am currently an active member. I will give you the rundown, my favorite parts, and why I joined!
Recreational Clubs: Hawaii Club and Surf Club
Hawaii and Surf Club were two clubs that I immediately joined as a new student at USC. Compared to other states, Hawaii students are difficult to come across, so I knew that joining Hawaii Club would allow me to connect with students from home, although not necessarily Maui, and help to build a community where we all share a common background of growing up in Hawaii. They host a ton of fun events like the annual Dockweiler Bonfire Night and UCLA pickleball outing which have been, by far, my favorite activities. I did not know this before I joined, but you don’t even need to be from Hawaii to be a member!
Surf Club is another organization that I enjoyed because of their weekly beach days and fun parties. The chill, inclusive nature of the club and the crazy energy they bring to every function is reason enough to be a member. Surfing in California is much chillier than back home, but it is still a ton of fun! These organizations have also been a great way for me to meet students beyond Viterbi and mechanical engineering!
Society of Women Engineers
Shifting toward more of an academic involvement, I am an Ambassador in the Society of Women Engineers cohort. Ambassadors have unique opportunities for professional development, networking, and overall bonding with a small group of female engineers. This year, as an ambassador, I am much more active at SWE meetings and events, and it has been an amazing opportunity to meet a variety of female engineers of all different years. I joined to gain access to mentorship and professional opportunities that would otherwise be incredibly difficult to navigate on my own. SWE is full of brilliant women that were once in my shoes, and it has been an insightful experience to say the least! I have loved the workshops put on for the ambassador program because it has truly helped to develop my LinkedIn, resume, and goals for the future!
Science Outreach (SCout)
Lastly, Science Outreach is a program that allows students to visit neighboring elementary schools and teach kids various science experiments. It is a super fulfilling and fun endeavor and allows you to build a relationship with a group of first-, second-, or third-grade students each week. The experiments usually follow a fun theme to maintain student engagement and may even teach you a thing or two about science! This is my second semester in SCout and I love every session that I am able to attend!
USC is home to 1000+ student organizations that will help you to find your fit in this daunting undergraduate population. Don’t be afraid to put yourself out there and explore your interests! There is an organization and group of students for everyone, so make sure to take advantage of what USC has to offer. As always, Fight On!
