December is the month of changes—winter beginning (with 80 degrees weather, but so be it), grades coming to a close (scarier in the short-term than climate change), students returning home (although this is probably less exciting if your home is nearby) and the year coming to a close.

It’s peppermint season, and you know what that means: new Starbucks holiday items. Every year, Starbucks releases new treats to celebrate the holiday season. This year, they released on November 7, and are set to leave stores in mid-January. Among the new delicacies are a seasonal refresher — the Cran-Merry Orange refresher — and a new pastry — the Dark Toffee Bundt. I tried them so you don’t have to, and by the end of the article, you can decide whether you’ll indulge in the new snacks or just stick to the peppermint basics.

The start of the new year feels like a blank slate or the perfect opportunity to rewrite the script of our lives. For years, I embraced the spirit of the New Years’ resolution, partly because it was a popular grade school post-recess activity and partly because I genuinely enjoyed believing I would be a different person in the next calendar year. My lists would look a little different every year but would still be brimming with the same ambitious flavor.

Once you have gathered the Matcha personnel explored in my previous article, you can start experimenting with how you would prefer to make your matcha. I’ll give you the basic guide on what I follow when making my matcha, but feel free to adjust anything within this guide to your liking!

For most people, Sunday mornings are meant for rest and relaxation. But to a small subset of students at USC, including me, the start of the week means it’s time to put on a show. The students, identifiable by our instruments and matching T-shirts, are members of a club at USC called Remedy Through Music. This registered service organization, also called RTHM for short, is on a mission to bring live music to underserved communities here in southern Los Angeles. 

We’ve all made some incredible friends here at USC, creating memories and bonds that make our college experience truly unforgettable. As the holiday season rolls around, you might be feeling the urge to show your appreciation for those friendships with a thoughtful gift. But let’s be so for real…most of us aren’t quite in the financial position to splurge on the gifts our friends truly deserve. That’s why I’m here to share some budget-friendly ideas that have worked for me, letting you show just how much you care without breaking the bank!

Finals season is upon us—sometimes, this means a few reflections, one big test and maybe an essay. But if you’re like me, this finals season is especially stressful (ten things to turn in during one week?!?) However, the dreaded finals season can be stressful no matter what you have to do if you aren’t taking care of yourself properly. I’m going to be talking about some tips that help me during finals.

The holiday season in Los Angeles offers something for everyone, whether you're staying in town or heading home to celebrate. For those staying local, LA's holiday magic shines through its dazzling light displays, festive markets, and multicultural celebrations. And if you're preparing to travel, there are plenty of activities to enjoy before you leave, making the most of the city’s vibrant holiday atmosphere. Here are a few festive activities to enjoy for the Holidays around LA!

November was a big month for movies, and the one that seemed to top them all was Wicked. The highly-anticipated adaptation of the Broadway musical has been in production since 2016 and finally hit the theaters on November 22. I don’t normally get this excited for movies, but between marketing campaigns and internet memes, Wicked was a must-see for me as soon as I could. And, for the most part, I’d say it lived up to the hype. This is my (mostly) spoiler-free review of Wicked.

As my first semester here at USC comes to an end, I’ll say that my experience here has been nothing short of both pleasant adventures and those much-needed learning curves. So, here is a list of things I’ve learned over my time here on campus.

Winter break is the perfect time to unwind, reflect on goals, and secure funding for your education. Here’s a list of scholarships to prioritize, sorted by deadline, so you can make the most of your break while working toward your academic and career dreams.

This past Halloween season, I discovered so many people close to me that were unaware of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. This year, I worked on DFTC’s production of it as a lead Hair and Makeup artist, but this was far from the beginning of my obsession with the franchise. The campy, raunchy, music-filled show is an unforgettable experience each time.