Life In the City of Angels: Exploring LA
Here at USC Viterbi, there is so much available to do and so many amazing opportunities open to you. With clubs ranging from club swimming to building a rocket, countless free D1 sporting events, and tons of fun events put on by Viterbi Student Engagement, Trojans are rarely bored on our beautiful campus. And yet one of my favorite parts of being a Trojan is the opportunity to go beyond our campus, and explore the city of Los Angeles.
Of course, coming from Minnesota, I might be a little more easily impressed than most by the Los Angeles palm trees, beaches, and public transportation. But even for someone more accustomed than I am to the beauties of California, the opportunity to explore Los Angeles as a college student is undeniably amazing.
Public Transportation and the UPass
One of my favorite perks of being a USC student is that we get a UPass, which allows us to take any metro train or bus completely for free. With this, I love to go relax at Santa Monica beach, study at a cafe in KTown, go downtown to explore the Last Bookstore, and so much more. The UPass lets you go almost anywhere you could possibly want to in LA, making venturing into this giant city with your friends super easy.
Walking Distance
Even without taking public transportation, LA has so much to offer within walking distance from USC. Across the street from USC, right next to our beloved Colosseum, lies the gorgeous Expo Park. Complete with a huge rose garden and aesthetic little gazebos, this is a wonderful place to wander over to and take a brain break. Just beyond that is the California Science Center, a genuinely very fun science museum that is free for everyone, and the Natural History Museum, which has free admission for USC students! Both of these make for fun short trips with friends, and let you explore important LA landmarks without leaving the fryft zone. Aside from museums, USC is also surrounded by more coffee shops and restaurants than anyone could possibly need, and they are super easy to walk to with friends for a coffee date or a late-night craving!
Volunteering
Another amazing way to explore LA is by getting involved in the community around USC. There are so many clubs and organizations here that you can join to start volunteering in LA, whether it be teaching science experiments to elementary students, interpreting at virtual clinics, helping local robotics teams, or doing any other volunteering you could possibly imagine. As much as I love exploring LA for fun, I’ve found that getting involved in the community is one of my favorite ways to get off of campus and learn more about this city!
Go out there and explore our amazing City of Angels! Fight on Trojans!
