My Top 10 Countdown of Fall 2013

Hey everyone!

I can’t believe this semester is already coming to an end. It really does feel like it started a few weeks ago. I’m so excited for Christmas break though! So much has happened this semester, and I figured I’d tell y’all about it with my top 10 countdown of this fall semester.

10. Bowling with AIChE

I love being a part of AIChE, the American Institute of Chemical Engineers, because it’s a great way to get to know other people in my major outside of the classroom setting. Bowling with other AIChE members was a fantastic way to relax during midterm season. I even won!

I won!

9. Taking a Ballroom Dancing Class

Taking a ballroom dancing class was one of the best decisions I made this year! We’ve learned dances like the foxtrot, waltz, samba, and tango. Going to this class is always a great study break, and it allows me to focus on something other than engineering twice a week.

My instructor was in Dirty Dancing!

8. Dealta Dodgeball

One of my favorite things about being a member of Delta Delta Delta is that our national philanthropy is St. Jude Children’s Hospital. We are always doing different fundraisers to raise money for the kids at St. Jude. The USC chapter raised over $30,000 last year! Our main fundraiser is Delta Dodgeball, which is a dodgeball tournament all the fraternities on campus pay to participate in.

7. Going to Disney

I absolutely adore Disneyland. It’s easily my favorite place around LA. I love how the moment I set foot inside the park, I instantly feel like a little kid again. It’s a great place to go for a day away from school!

6. Hiking the Hollywood Sign

This semester was my first time to go hike the Hollywood sign. Since I’m from Texas, this seemed like the perfect somewhat touristy thing to do on a weekend when I didn’t have a lot of work for the next week! I went hiking with two of my sorority sisters, who also happen to be engineers!

5. Going to a Polo Match

One of my best friends is on the USC Polo team, so I hear a lot about polo all the time, but I’d never been to a game. On the same day we hiked the Hollywood sign in the morning, we decided to go to a polo match that afternoon to watch her coach play. The game was a little confusing to understand, but it was so fun to watch! After, we headed to In-N-Out to grab burgers and went and ate them on the beach!

4. Football

Football is easily one of my favorite parts of fall semester. It was amazing to watch a team who got off to a rough start turn their season around and ultimately beat Stanford. My favorite football weekend was when my parents came out to visit and came to the game with me.

I love when my parents come to visit me

3. Hearing President Bush Speak

Every year, USC hosts the President’s Distinguished Lecture, which a select group of students are invited to attend. This year, I had the honor of attending the lecture and getting to hear President George W. Bush and former First Lady Laura Bush speak about their time in the White House and what they’ve been up to since that time.

2. Moving into my Own Apartment

This year marked my first year out of the dorms! It was so exciting to move into my own apartment. I live with one other chemical engineer. I had so much fun getting to pick out all my bedroom furniture and accessories (and watching my dad put it all together for me.)

Helping my dad build my table.

1. Bid Night

Bid night was my favorite night of the semester. It marked the end of a long week of formal sorority recruitment. What made this year’s bid night so special was the fact that two of my best friends in chemical engineering became Tridelts this year! It’s great to be able to make memories with them both inside and outside of the classroom.