Jessica Tuazon

Class of 2009, B.A. in Psychology & Sociology

Where have you worked and/or studied since you graduated from USC?

After graduating from USC, I enrolled at the University of Miami, School of Law, where I graduated with a J.D. in 2012. During law school, I interned at a non-profit organization, the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, and a law firm. I currently work as an attorney in a firm in Miami, where my practice focuses on regulatory compliance issues related to foods, drugs, and life sciences.

What was the most beneficial thing you did as a student at USC to prepare you for post-graduation?

Throughout the application process, the representatives of the USC admissions office emphasized the idea that USC provides its students with a complete education and the tools to succeed. In furtherance of that model, my advisors always suggested that I enroll in classes that interested me, regardless of whether or not those classes fulfilled graduation requirements or satisfied prerequisites for graduate school. From an academic standpoint, the most beneficial thing I did while at USC was to heed that advice. Taking advantage of different classes across disciplines helped satisfy my academic curiosity and, ultimately, led me to the majors that I loved. These experiences helped mold me into a better student and a more knowledgeable, well-rounded adult. As a law student and now attorney, I appreciate how those classes helped to hone my critical thinking and analytical skills, and prepared me for post-collegiate life.

What course did you enjoy the most?

One of my favorite courses as an undergraduate student was Dr. Farver’s Psychology Honors courses. The Psychology Honors program provided me with a rare opportunity to have a hands-on academic experience. Through these two courses, I became intimately familiar with every stage of a research project, from developing an initial research question to presenting my final thesis at the Undergraduate Symposium. The program’s full-immersion approach to research, including the ordeals of IRB certification, data collection and analysis, and tackling social science-focused academic writing, is a fantastic preview of graduate school and the rigors that students will face after graduation. Dr. Farver and the other professors who assisted with our independent projects created a collegial environment, wherein students were treated akin to colleagues. By treating us like future colleagues and breaking down the professor-student barrier, we were exceptionally motivated to work hard to produce the best research projects possible.

The Psychology Honors Program also brings together people from all areas of the psychology department. My graduating class included people whose projects focused on new issues in the psychology of social media, elaborate cognitive functioning, questions focused in biological aspects of perception, as well as the developmental psychology of children’s understanding of language of memory. Additionally, the students in my class had very different future plans. From my graduating class, we now have attorneys, a medical doctor, multiple Ph.D. candidates, social workers, and business men and women. Our diverse upbringings and interests made our roundtable discussions that much more interesting and engaging. Overall, my experience in the Psychology Honors Program introduced me to the world of collegial practice and helped improve my confidence, communication and interpersonal skills.

If you were an undergraduate again, is there anything that you would do differently?

In addition to adding even more variation to my class schedule, I would take my professors’ advice and go to office hours. As an undergraduate student, I was shy and nervous to approach my professors. The Psychology Honors Program finally helped me to understand how approachable, interesting, and helpful those interactions can be in understanding the material. I wish I could go back and tap into those relationships with professors, as they can help students explore options and open the door to great opportunities for the future.

Have you won any awards, accolades, etc. after you graduated from USC?

Member and Website Editor for the American Bar Association (ABA) Food, Cosmetics, and Nutraceuticals Committee