Senior Series: Lilly's Advice to Freshmen

From the time I added a major in Communication, spring semester of my freshman year, I knew that Annenberg was a perfect place for me to learn and grow both personally and academically. From getting the opportunity to study abroad in Rome to interviewing celebrities on the red carpet as an intern, Annenberg has provided countless opportunities for personal and professional growth. While the beginning of college looks far different for the incoming freshman class, I wanted to reminisce on some of my favorite memories and opportunities at Annenberg and discuss how any incoming students can get the most out of their Annenberg experience. 

1. Reach out to students in your Annenberg courses.

One of the most important parts of any college experience is making lifelong friends that can support you personally and academically. When it came to cultivating these friendships I was fortunate to be able to meet many of my best friends on the floor of my dorm in freshman year. These friends are actually the exact reason that I was interested in adding a major in Annenberg and was able to add the major. Meeting friends in a dorm setting is a typical way to make friends at college and usually leads to lasting friendships due to the amount of time you are able to spend together living in close proximity. Another way to meet amazing students with similar interests would be to not be afraid to reach out to your classmates in Annenberg in order to create those lasting friendships. Some of my favorite Annenberg memories were in my argumentation and advocacy class. With less than 20 students, we were able to work together on projects throughout the semester and created lasting friendships throughout college. For any incoming students nervous about meeting people, Annenberg students are some of your best resources to form lasting friendships. 

2. Go to guest speaker events to learn about different career paths.

Throughout my time at Annenberg, I have been able to hear amazing speakers like Hillary Kerr, one of the Co-founders of WhoWhatWear, and Harvey Levin, founder of TMZ, as well as countless others. Attending these events throughout my time at Annenberg is one of the best ways to learn about different career paths and learn more about industry trends. As an incoming student learning about different career paths will be extremely helpful.  As Annenberg students, there are a plethora of different types of jobs and opportunities and it can be overwhelming to narrow your search. Listening to guest speakers and forging connections is also a great way to get jobs and internships and understand exactly what it means to join certain industries through honest conversations. 

3. Join Annenberg Organizations.

As an incoming student, you are going to be bombarded with different clubs and organizations to join while at USC. While there are many organizations at USC that are amazing, some organizations that I wish I had gotten involved with earlier are the Annenberg ones like the Women’s Leadership Society (WLS) and Annenberg Ambassadors. These two organizations are extremely helpful in creating lasting relationships with your peers in similar majors. Additionally, through these organizations you are able to meet professors and advisors that you may have never been able to interact with prior to joining. In my case, joining WLS my junior year was an amazing opportunity to connect with other Annenberg students in other majors that I may have never been able to meet and I got to know a few of them before heading off to Rome through Annenberg the following semester. 

4. Study Abroad!

While this may seem like a far-fetched idea with the current global situation my time studying abroad through Annenberg was some of the most amazing academic and personal experiences that I was able to have. The Annenberg Rome program not only allows you to take classes in your major and improve upon your skills but allows for a culture immersion with amazing professors. While LA and USC are amazing places, getting the chance to grow outside of your comfort zone while studying abroad is an amazing experience that all Annenberg students should try and take advantage of. In Rome I was also able to travel to different countries every weekend with new friends and had experiences that could not have been replicated at USC. Studying abroad is easy to fit into your schedule at Annenberg because all of the courses directly transfer back to USC. This allowed me to go abroad even as a double major with some careful planning. My favorite class at USC was one I took in Rome called Italian Media: Popes, Politicians, and Popular culture taught by a member of the Vatican communications team where we were able to go on field trips each week and get a behind the scenes look at Rome.

5. Remember to find balance.

Finally, with all of the amazing opportunities that come with being an Annenberg student you need to remember to find a balance between your academics, professional, and social goals. While you may compare yourself to others with amazing internships or research opportunities it is important to know that each semester will bring a different set of challenges and it is okay to shift your involvement and priorities. Since you are an Annenberg student you will be presented with amazing opportunities in all aspects of life, but it is important to also find hobbies you enjoy outside of the classroom – whether that be trying new restaurants around LA with friends or going to the beach in order to create a fun and well-rounded college experience.