Living in Southern California, you belong to one of two camps: those for USC or those for UCLA. I suppose there are also those that don’t care and are thus unaffiliated, which makes less sense to me than being a Bruin (I joke….sort of).
I grew up going to football games at USC, as well as taking little day trips with my mom to just walk around and look at the different buildings or visit the book store. During those trips, I remember feeling a sense of pride as I peeked into buildings or visited the different libraries, a sense of pride over what great things this University represented. Before becoming an official Trojan, I felt connected to the university in a way that I imagine many children feel a connection to Disneyland. I know this sounds weird, and it probably is, but I would get that same bright eyed look in my eyes and the feeling of excitement in my stomach when I arrived on campus. However, my connection to the university now goes deeper than before. I find myself taking an interest in the direction the university is going and a sense of pride in the accomplishments that come from within the Trojan family. Despite fewer “in-person” interactions, I am beginning to form relationships with my classmates which really help to create that sense of community that comes with most learning experiences.
The short answer to what it’s like to be a part of the USC community, takes my mind to an encounter I had right after being accepted to the program. One of my friends, who happens to be a USC alum, jokingly asked me what it felt like to go to a “real” college now. I have to say…it feels good!
Fight On!
Jennifer is a member of the fall 2009 cohort. She recently received her CA teaching credential and is teaching third grade in Altadena, California.
