Back into the swing of things!

This summer has not been exactly what I was hoping for, but I am really excited to begin the new school year with optimism and tenacity! This will definitely be my most challenging year so far at USC, with new responsibilities, harder classes, and higher expectations. However, even with serious academic life, I know that this year will also be extremely fun and it starts with football season.

This fall, the football team at USC will have its first opportunity to play in the postseason in two years because of sanctions placed on the team two years ago. For me, this will be the first year to see the team have the chance to go all the way to the national championships! Being in the marching band makes it that much more exciting, because if the team goes to the national championships, the band will travel with the team to Miami for the game. This fall will definitely be the biggest season in a long time, considering we have Matt Barkley, our all-star quarterback, returning for his senior year. We also have one of the best safety players in the country with T.J. McDonald. And you cannot forget about Robert Woods, the wide receiver who has made some of the most insane catches I have seen. This Friday, I start band camp where we will meet the new freshmen and welcome them into the program. We will then begin preparing for our first game against Hawaii on September 1st. I am so excited for the first game and it will be a great way to kick off this year.

And I am very thankful that I have an activity like band that will keep me sane through my academically tough year. This fall, I am taking Molecular Biology, Chemical Reactor Analysis, Physical Chemistry, and a General Education class. On top of that, I am taking a business class that is focused around leading organizations. I always like to challenge myself, and I think that it will be a tough, but intellectually rewarding semester. I will make sure to follow up later with how these classes turn out to be.

I would say that looking back through this summer, my favorite memories come from moments with my family and closest friends. It’s been great to relax and see people I do not usually get to spend a lot of time with. From going to Disneyland to camping in Point Reyes, I have enjoyed getting out and doing different things. I will definitely be thinking back to these moments once things get crazy!