I’ve been at USC for five semesters now, and when I think back on all the classes I’ve taken, one stands out above the rest: GSEM 131 – Vagina Politics and Public Policy with Professor Pamela McCann.
I know – just from the title, you probably have a million questions. I did too when I was scanning the course list. For context, a GSEM is a general seminar all first-years take during their freshman year. The idea is to satisfy a general education requirement while giving you a small, discussion-based class with only first-year students.
When I saw this particular course, I was curious but unsure of what to expect. It turned out the semester I took it was the very first time it had ever been offered. With no reviews or references, my floormate and I signed up on a whim. It ended up being one of the most rewarding choices I’ve made at USC.
The class explored reproductive policies through a technical lens. We pored over court cases on abortion legality, analyzed proposals from state and federal governments, and wrestled with the kind of dense legal jargon that can leave you wondering what a bill actually does. Each class was split into two halves: first, breaking down the readings; then, diving into discussion with our group of about 15 students. We debated how policies affected different communities and even our own lives.
Professor McCann pushed us to consider every possible angle. She often played devil’s advocate, forcing us to sharpen our arguments and understand the broader impact of each policy. Beyond reproductive rights, the course gave me the confidence to approach any policy and decode it for myself. Now, when I see a ballot measure, I feel prepared to read it critically and make an informed choice.
But honestly, the most lasting impact wasn’t just the skills – it was the people. In that small seminar, we built a sense of community around a topic none of us had expected to dive into in college. We challenged each other’s perspectives, learned from one another’s experiences, and walked away with deeper empathy. Even now, nearly two years later, I still grab meals with classmates from that course. We talk about how much it changed the way we see the world and shaped the kind of people we’re becoming.
If there’s one takeaway from my experience, it’s this: take the class that seems random or unrelated to your major. As engineers, it’s easy to fill our schedules with purely technical courses. But the classes that stretch your worldview, the ones that seem a little out of left field, are often the ones that stay with you the longest.
