Hello! So far, my classes have been shaping up to be an exciting challenge. Im taking a loaded schedule, with a very broad focus on different topics and fields. I am taking:

Physics 152 – Electricity and Magnetism
WRIT 340 – Advanced Writing
AME 204 – Strength of Materials
CSCI 445 – Introduction to Robotics
PSYC 165 – Drugs, Behavior, and Society

Freshman year spring semester, I took Physics 151 with Professor Peroomian and I loved his class. The lectures were useful, his office hours were amazing, and I remember genuinely enjoying that experience. Fast forward to sophomore year spring semester, I’m taking 152 with the same professor and in the same room. It’s the perfect continuation for my physics journey. I took AP Physics C in high school, so 151 was all familiar material. But electricity and magnetism will be a completely new ball game for me, so I expect to devote a considerable amount of time to learning the material.

WRIT 340 is a continuation of WRIT 150 and is geared more towards advanced writing and rhetoric. My teacher for the class is super eclectic hippy from San Diego with a lifetime of stories to tell. He has a very laissez faire approach to teaching. Attendance is mandatory in the class, but he has a policy of allowing students to leave the class whenever. He believes that students should not be forced to sit in a class if they believe they have something more pressing to finish. His discussions have been very engaging so far, and I can’t wait to see what else he has in store.

AME 204 is basically a continuation of statics, and the material will become challenging throughout the semester but I’m excited to learn more about Mechanical engineering!

PSYC 165 is a psychology class, but really its a fusion of all sorts of topics. We talk about every aspect of psychoactive drugs, including (but not limited to) why plants evolved to produce psychoactive compounds, how the brain works and how drugs interact with it, addiction, and how drugs interact with our society. This class is for a GE, and is one of the last GE’s I will have to take at USC!

CSCI 445 is a computer science class about robotics, and discusses everything from its components, sensors, the industry, and using python to code robots in lab. This class counts as a tech elective for mechanical engineering as well, so I get to get a class out of the way! In our lab section, we are programming repurposed iRobot Roombas fitted with all sorts of sensors and a small computer. We can control what and where the robot goes, and it can process information to solve problems if program it to.

My classes have just started, but they are gearing up to be very exciting. Stay tuned for updates on how I’m enjoying my classes/workload!\

Loic Alini

Loic Alini

MAJOR: Mechanical Engineering YEAR: Class of 2021 HOMETOWN: Dublin, California PRONOUNS: he/him/his INSTA: @loic.alini On campus I have worked on the SC Racing team, and I'm currently involved with the 3D printing org '3D4E'. Outside of Viterbi, I am involed with volunteering in the community through JEP, and I have interned at Intel.