Graduating seniors reflect on their time at USC Dornsife
Commencement represents a time of great joy and optimism as graduating seniors revel in their achievement and look forward to the brightest of futures. Years of diligent study and college life launch these scholars into a new phase of success.
On the eve of Commencement, eight USC Dornsife Trojans give us a peek at the lessons they’ve learned and some of their favorite moments from their time at the university.
Ahlia Bethea
Roselle, N.J.
Major: Environmental Studies
Minors: American Studies and Ethnicity; Communication Design
Black Alumni Association Scholarship; Dean’s Scholarship
“ENST 492” [Directed Environmental Policy and Science Internship] is the best class at USC! I travelled with professor Lisa Collins to Belize to conduct research relating the collapse of Mayan civilization to the states of society today. We had the opportunity to read different academic pieces and actually meet and interact with the archaeologists who published them. We studied different cave types and then actually swam through them. Talk about experimental learning!
Julia Lawler
Rancho Palos Verdes, Calif.
Majors: History; Social Science Education
Minors: Political Science; Education in a Pluralistic Society
Roberta Persinger Foulke Endowment Fellowship; History Honors Program; Honors for Undergraduate History Thesis
If I could go back in time, I would tell my freshman self that it’s okay to not have the rest of your life figured out at 18 years old! Your interests and passions change over time … so it’s totally normal to not know what you want to do with your life! Trust the process, and give yourself time to take classes and become involved in organizations that will help you realize your goals in life.
Trevor Kehrer
La Canada, Calif.
Major: Political Science
Minors: Law and Society; Human Rights
USC Discovery Scholar Prize; USC Presidential Fellow at the Center for the Study of the Presidency and Congress; USC Jessie Ingram Endowed Scholarship; USC Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Scholarship; USC Lesher Family Scholarship; USC Michael B. Preston Scholarship in Urban Politics and Civil Rights; USC Skull and Dagger Society Barden Centennial Scholarship; USC Independent Spirit Award; President’s Volunteer Service Award; President of USC Pi Sigma Alpha Honor Society
The stand-out moment during my time at USC Dornsife was my experience conducting directed research for two semesters. My research advisor, Professor Alison Dundes Renteln, gave me a great deal of academic independence, and I felt free to study whatever issues I thought deserved attention. Because of USC Dornsife’s considerable resources, I was able to produce a compelling portfolio comprising two papers on what I believe are neglected areas of international law.
Monica Liu
Fremont, Calif.
Majors: Biological Sciences; Business Administration
Trustee Scholarship; Renaissance Scholarship
USC Dornsife has provided me with countless opportunities. The time that stands out most was when I was starting the Mobile Clinic at USC a few years ago. I reached out to many professors, and everyone was overwhelmingly supportive of my idea. The mentality of mentorship and encouragement is extremely palpable at USC, and I am forever grateful for that.
Morgan Mamon
Chicago, Ill.
Major: Middle East Studies
Provost undergraduate Research Fellow; Discovery Scholars Prize; USC Undergraduate Research Symposium: First Place in the Humanities; Dean Joan Metcalf Schaefer Merit Scholarship; Dornsife Study Abroad Scholarship for Foreign Language Study; Jessie Ingram Endowed Scholarship; Willard and Betty Beling Student Scholars Award; USC Alumni Association Scholarship; SCion Scholar
One of my most fun courses at USC was Arabic I. I loved the process of delving into an unfamiliar linguistic realm — for example, determining the look of my Arabic handwriting and figuring out how to pronounce the Arabic qÄÂf. This class was particularly delightful because it met four times a week, so I had the opportunity to build relationships with my classmates, some of whom are still friends of mine four years later.
Anthony Zelaya-Umanzor
San Francisco, Calif.
Major: Psychology
First-generation College Student
Transfer Student: City College of San Francisco
USC Provost’s Undergrad Research Fellowship; USC Research Gateway Scholars Program; Alumni Club of the East Bay Scholarship; Latino Alumni Association Scholarship; Norman Topping Scholarship; USC Alumni Association Scholarship; USC 2017 Latino Honor Society; Psi Chi Honor Society; Psychology Honors Program; Discovery Scholar Distinction
My research experience was one of a kind; I never knew that it was possible to do research as an undergraduate. The contribution from my mentor Dr. Stan Huey made my experience very special. I not only learned what it was like to be a student, but research taught me more about myself. It was through this experience that I realized my passion for higher education, which I now plan to pursue.
Thwe Thwe “Nida” Soe
Yangon, Myanmar
Major: GeoDesign
I will never forget what one of my professors said to me during my junior year: “You are never too young to change the world. Be bold.” I remember the exact words. I’d say this is one of the moments that I’ll remember for a long, long time.
Whitney Woodard
Buena Park, Calif.
Major: Human Biology
Minor: Psychology
First-generation College Student
“Metabolic Diseases” (HBIO 409) was my favorite class at USC. I enjoyed this class so much because not only were the topics really interesting, but also I learned things that were applicable to me, like why red meats are so bad and what happens in my body when I eat fatty foods. Professor Polidori also made the class better because she is so interested in the topic. Her excitement made the class that much more enjoyable.