You may have heard about the USC Alumni Association or seen the phrase “Trojan Family” on some t-shirts, and maybe you’ve even heard how USC has great networking. I know I heard these things before I decided to come here and also as an incoming freshman, but I didn’t know what being a part of the “Trojan Family” really meant until my hometown’s SCend Off. At the Bakersfield SCend Off (same hometown as some USC football players like Cody Kessler, REPRESENT), I met more USC alumni than I did students! There were USC grads from the class of 1960-something to the class of 2006, all there to offer advice and connect with new and current SC students. A lot of them gave me their contact info and told me to contact them whenever I needed to. One of them even told me to call him when I graduate so he can help me get a job (he said this jokingly though because every single Viterbi student he knew already had a job waiting for them after graduation). This was where I realized how important networking is and how important it is to use the Trojan Family, because yes it actually is a thing.
Since I’ve been at USC, I’ve really experienced the Trojan Family in full effect. Not only does the campus feel comfortable and welcoming, but it seems like everywhere I go someone strikes up a conversation with me just because I’m wearing SC gear. USC is unlike any other school because we rep this pride for life and it’s infectious even to non-USC grads! I swear everyone either went here or knows someone who went here or is simply just a fan, and all of these connections are really helpful when you’re navigating through internships, research opportunities, jobs and grad school prospects.
One of the MATT Construction interviewers for my internship was a Trojan and the other interviewer’s parents were both Trojans! We immediately connected with all that Trojan common ground and it made the interview a lot more relaxed. They only had one spot left and they gave me (a freshman!) the job. This summer I get to work in North Hollywood as a paid intern for MATT Construction and I couldn’t be more excited! An internship the summer after your first year is pretty rare for most schools, but it’s relatively common for Viterbi undergrads.
This is one of the reasons I love ‘SC. The Trojan Family is definitely a real thing and as a USC student, I know that I’m always networking, especially when I’m talking to USC alumn. No matter where you are, remember: you’re a part of the Trojan Family. So when you see someone in ‘SC gear, throw up a Fight On (if they don’t beat you to it), you never know where these connections will take you!