Grateful for support that made college possible, USC grad pays it forward
Marla Ross felt like an imposter.
Coming from rural Ohio, the USC freshman was overwhelmed by the chaotic hustle of Los Angeles. Her fellow Trojans all seemed like they lived glamorous lives: They traveled the globe, landed impressive internships and posted beautiful photos on Instagram and Facebook.
She felt like she didn’t belong, despite her stellar academic record. Maybe it’s because she had to pay her own way in college with help from scholarships, loans and a work-study job. She shied away from opportunities like a competitive scholarship for a study abroad program or leadership positions in student groups.
“There are so many opportunities I’ve probably missed because I thought I wasn’t deserving or the most qualified,” she said.
But with encouragement from her USC friends and mentors, Ross slowly learned to trust her instincts and abilities. Looking back after graduating this month from the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences, she can see how her hard work has paid off.
She climbed the ranks to become co-director of Troy Camp, overseeing the popular student-run philanthropy that mentors kids from the neighborhoods around USC. She earned Renaissance Scholar honors by studying cognitive science with minors in Spanish and teaching English to speakers of other languages. And she became a member of Phi Beta Kappa, the nation’s oldest honor society.
She also had a formative experience as a sophomore while studying abroad in Chile, where she taught English to high school students.
Ross returns to South America this fall as a Fulbright student. Along with teaching English to university students in Bogotá, Colombia, she’ll impart the lessons she learned about making the most of opportunities in both education and life.
Ross has seen her confidence grow with each obstacle she bested. She doesn’t feel like an imposter anymore — and she doesn’t want anyone else to either.
“That’s something I feel very strongly about now,” she said. “I want to increase access for students, make resources available and help them feel comfortable and empowered to take on challenges.”