The Southern California sun blazes brightly over the USC campus, palm trees swaying gently in the warm breeze. Families are everywhere, unloading cars packed with luggage, bedding, mini-fridges, and boxes of essentials. Volunteers in cardinal and gold t-shirts guide the traffic, helping students navigate the bustling sidewalks. The hum of car horns and excited chatter blends with the distant sounds of street performers from nearby streets in Los Angeles.

Your parents wave goodbye, and their car disappears down Trousdale Parkway, leaving you standing with your suitcase in hand outside your assigned dorm. Students rush past, balancing way too many belongings while laughing nervously, meeting roommates for the first time, or exchanging friendly greetings. The scent of coffee and baked goods drifts from a nearby café, and the energy of campus life is electric—vibrant, fast-paced, and distinctly LA.

This is it. Your first step as a Trojan. The dorm door opens, and a world of new experiences, friendships, and opportunities awaits.