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“The People Make the Place”

This quote has often been repeated to me, and before entering my years at USC I thought they were merely just words. However, through my student organizations and the incredible people I have met, I have found the people truly do make the place, and I have found myself in a lot of places.

USC Helenes

Helenes finds you when you need it most. Here is a quote that I have held close to my Heart. The Helenes are the official hosts of the University of Southern California. “It is the mission of the Helenes to support the University community. Through this community I have found a family. During my sophomore Fall semester, I found myself drifting away from myself, and I know that through Helenes I found myself a home. From their pillars of Service, Spirit, Family, and DEI, I found myself finding myself in the impact made in the community and the inspiring people around me. From sitting in the front row of football games and cheering on our Alma Mater, to volunteering my Saturday’s at the local food pantry, Helenes gave me a purpose. 

Project RISHI

Through USC Student Organizations, I am not limited to one family, but a multitude of families. Walking on campus, I seldom walk with my head down as even with 20,000 students I always see one I know. One of the first student organizations I had the privilege of joining was project RISHI. This allowed me to have the first people I call family. Of those incredible people I met my first month at USC, 4 of them have now become my housemates. As a community service organization for South Asia, Project RISHI or Rural India Social and Health Improvement, I am able to work on a Team to bring sustainable projects to Rural South Asian Communities. From working on a Team to bring anti-human trafficking modules to being a team lead, planning for a science outreach fair in northern India, I have learned so much about and from the community, as well as found a group of people I call home. 

MEDesign

An organization I have joined recently but have found myself integrated in almost immediately is USC premier medical device design team, or MEDesign. Joining a team named AdaProsthetics, I am working to create a pylon for pediatric orthopedic patients. Through my design Team I am able to gain several technical and soft skills surrounding the medical device industry. Beyond this knowledge, I have found an incredible group of like minded individuals. 

USC student organizations have truly made this college so special to me.

Ishaani Pradeep

Hi! I am studying Biomedical Engineering (Molecular/Cellular) and I am from New Milford, CT. I will be graduating will the Class of 2026. On campus, I am involved in EWB, USC Helenes, Southern California Healthcare Outreach, and Beta Rho Chi. I work as an Undergraduate Researcher in the Gracey Lab as a CURVE and Provost Fellow and as a Medical Teaching Assistant with the Joint Education Project. I am currently completing a Research Internship at the Yale School of Medicine, in the Surgical Oncology Department.