My sophomore year has definitely started at a quick pace. I am going into week five of the semester, and I already have my first midterm and paper due! In case you are interested in the daily life of a biomedical engineering major, here is what my semester looks like so far.
I am living in a four-person apartment and absolutely loving it. We have a full kitchen and a living room with couches and a TV. This is the first time I am cooking, so there has been a learning curve. I am thankful that Trader Joe’s has many microwavable options (i.e. grilled chicken strips, mac and cheese, and soup dumplings). Simple meals I recommend are pastas, my favorite being spaghetti bolognese, and tacos with ground meat, cheese, and vegetables.
My two major-related courses are Cell Biology and Physiology and Fundamentals of Physics II: Electricity and Magnetism. Cell Biology covers everything from cells to the respiratory system. Classes are challenging because there is a lot of detailed material, but I find the concepts fascinating. After all, I am a BIOmedical engineering major. Physics II is about how calculus can be applied to solve circuits, magnetic fields, and sound waves. Mastering calculus in high school and freshman year will be extremely helpful for this class.
The courses for my minor in classical perspectives are State and Society in the Ancient World and Liberal Arts Reading Salon. State and Society begins with the start of civilization and ends with the fall of the Roman Empire. I love history, which is one of the reasons why I have chosen this minor. The Reading Salon is my two-unit course that is graded pass/fail. It is all about adaptations, whether that be books to movies or older movies to recent movies. Both courses are a really nice break from my STEM courses.
Finally, the most unique course I have taken here at USC is African American Dance, which is fulfilling one of my general education requirements. The purpose behind the class is to recognize that African American dance is not a term only used for the dances we see on viral YouTube videos or the choreography we see on commercial dance shows. African American dance can actually be divided into many different forms that originate from distinct communities. Thought provoking, right?
Although classes can be time-consuming, it is important to find moments to relax and take a well-deserved break. This past weekend, I had a social event for the Society of Women Engineers (SWE). SWE is a national organization that does exactly what it sounds like: integrates women into engineering fields. Our USC chapter puts on professional, community outreach, and social events. I enjoy being a part of SWE because it is a supportive, tight-knit community of motivated women. I feel comfortable asking any person in SWE to help me find the academic and professional resources I need. However, we are not only focused on engineering. Last Friday, we booked the second floor of a restaurant, hired a DJ, and danced the night away! It was probably one of the most memorable nights of my time here at USC. It goes to show you, engineers can have fun, too!
