This is a guest blog entry written by Zoe Withers.
Hi! My name is Zoe Withers. I was born and raised in Seattle, WA, but here in Los Angeles, I am in my second year studying chemical engineering. As expected, USC and Los Angeles are infinitely different from my hometown and my surroundings surprise me more with each day. Endless sun, thousands of new faces, and a jam-packed schedule is what I typically wake up to every day. While it’s all magical that I get the privilege of new experiences and challenges, being a student is overstimulating to say the least because here at USC, you’re never just a student. The motivating atmosphere encourages you to involve yourself as much as possible. You may be a student, but you could also be a club president, a hustler, a researcher, a friend. Those things add up as even more time-consuming tasks fill up your free time, like the upperclassmen housing search or job applications. As a chronic procrastinator and certified D1 yapper (I work as a USC tour guide), I feel it my duty to tell you my truth as I try to thrive at USC.
As terms like “lock in” and “academic weapon” have gained popularity, there comes an easily-crossed line between working hard towards success and overworking yourself. Locking in each week is the standard at USC. I am surrounded by people who work incredibly hard and seemingly finish their mile-long to-do list each day without fail. You have to lock in to get it all done, but you have to lock in for hours at a time. Typically, my days consist of back-to-back classes, meetings, and work shifts, causing my days to regularly be 8am to 9pm of being locked in. This is the norm for hundreds of other students at USC, and I know for a fact that we can’t all be endlessly enthusiastic and energized for this lifestyle, as happy as we may seem.
So, what do we do? How do we get it all done without burning out? There is no simple, straightforward solution that I can offer. But I can tell you something that you need to know from this point on. We are not on this Earth to suffer. Life’s purpose is not to stay locked in. The most valuable lessons often come when we slow down, step outside the chaos, and allow ourselves to breathe. Whether it’s a spontaneous sunset walk, a late-night laugh with friends, or simply a few quiet moments to recharge, those small pockets of joy fuel us to keep going. Balance doesn’t always mean perfect time management — sometimes it means choosing to prioritize your well-being, even if your to-do list is still a mile long. Remember, the best version of yourself is the one who feels fulfilled, not just productive.
