Michael's Time Living and Studying in LA

I grew up in West Palm Beach, Florida, so I was on the complete opposite coast from USC and was not super familiar with the school. However, I ended up going to a magnet high school focused on the arts, and a lot of students in my Communication Arts program — which focused on journalism and cinema — looked up to USC as the holy grail for those interests. In the hallways, people talked about USC’s impressive reputation, with alumni like George Lucas,  Kevin Feige, and Will Ferrell. That’s how I discovered USC and how it became my dream school.

Here at USC, I study Journalism in the Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, with a minor in Cinematic Arts and a future second minor in Screenwriting. Los Angeles offers unparalleled opportunities for my dual interests in journalism and cinema, with major companies like The Los Angeles Times, Universal Studios, and Warner Brothers in USC’s backyard. It’s also just an exciting place to live, with so many things to do. I’ve done it all, from riding the roller coaster on the Santa Monica shore to seeing Harry Styles in concert at The Forum.

My favorite part about living in LA while attending USC is the diversity of experiences, opportunities, and food available. I have yet to run out of exciting places to go and things to try. I am constantly pushing myself out of my comfort zone, and it’s exhilarating. I have learned so much about myself and about the communities I engage with.

I think living in LA has positively impacted my Journalism studies because there are always newsworthy current events going on in the area, often on a national or even global scale. I have gotten to experience events that I then read about in class or see in Annenberg Media and Daily Trojan headlines, like the Rams Super Bowl Victory Parade. As I move into upper-division Journalism courses, I anticipate having great opportunities to report on these happenings all around Los Angeles.

This blog post could not be complete without some favorite spots and recommendations from yours truly. For starters, anyone new to LA needs to experience The Grove and The Original Farmers Market. I love the mac and cheese empanadas from Nonna's Empanadas there! Another great spot to check out is the Santa Monica Boulevard shopping and nightlife scene in West Hollywood. As an LGBTQ+ student, it is always empowering to see so many queer establishments on that street during my walk to Salt & Straw for their Chocolate Gooey Brownie ice cream! Lastly, a USC milestone experience is eating your first Cronut at Spudnuts Donuts, right off campus!