My junior year of high school when my friends and I started talking about what colleges they were going to, I felt out of place when I said I wanted to go out of state. See, I come from a small, rural town in Oregon where everyone went to the state school and community college. I am a big proponent of those things for many people, but for me I wanted change. I wanted to explore a big city and live a life different from something I ever had before.
So, when I started looking at colleges to attend, I valued large schools where I thought I could meet a diverse group of people. I originally favored schools that balance being a large school but having more country vibe. After drafting my list of colleges, I began touring schools. I remember one of the first schools I toured was USC and immediately I knew I needed to go completely out of my comfort zone. I knew USC would be a big change for me, but after seeing so many different people on campus, I knew I could find my place here.
From that point on, USC became my dream school. I did everything in my power to get into Viterbi and now I am here.
USC has felt like a close knit family in a sea of the hustle and bustle of LA. Even though there are so many people who go to USC, I have never felt like a number. I see familiar faces every day and have found people who broaden my perspective on the world.
USC as a school has supported my passion for exploring the future practices of engineering. Innovative ideas are always welcome in the classroom and in clubs. USC has allowed me to explore the intersectionality of engineering and other fields and given me the space to apply that within my classes.
To anyone considering USC from a small (maybe even rural) town: my advice is to do it. On paper, USC seems like a massive school but in reality, you will find your niche and it will seem much smaller than it really is. I have met so many people who support me and where I am from (I just realized one of my friends also lived on a farm too!). It is an amazing experience to have this close knit community in such an exciting city as LA.
Take the leap off faith and I can promise you will have a great time here.
