Gamecock Voices

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Sisterhood and Service

Hey everyone! It’s Savanna Ivill again! Since April is National Volunteer Month, I wanted to share with you my volunteer experiences at USC. You may remember from my last post I briefly mentioned that I am a sister of Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a service sorority on campus. Epsilon Sigma Alpha is an international service organization that focuses on camaraderie, fun and personal growth through helping others. You may have some questions about what exactly ESA is, so let me help you out! You can go to www.esaatusc.org or follow us in Instagram @epsilonsigmaalpha​ to learn more about the Sigma Phi chapter on campus here at USC!

What drew you to this sorority?

 I was looking for an organization on campus that would give me a core group of friends who share similar values as myself while also allowing me to help others through community service. ESA was perfect for me because we are heavily involved with volunteer opportunities, but we also have traditional sorority activities such as rush, bid day, bigs and littles, social events, formal and semi-formal, retreat, Parent’s Banquet, sisterhood events (bowling, movie nights, roller skating etc.) and more! We also participate in school-wide events such as homecoming, Relay for Life (my personal favorite), St. Jude Up ‘Til Dawn, and Dance Marathon. 

What you have learned thus far?

One thing I didn’t expect when joining ESA was that I have made friends with people who I never expected to. Even though we are such a vastly diverse group of girls in terms of personality, religion, academic major and much more, we all share a common passion for sisterhood and service. I have also learned that service is fun! Because of ESA, I look forward to volunteering and want to volunteer as much as possible. I hope to make volunteering a priority in my life after college. In addition, I have had the opportunity to expand my leadership skills. ESA has several executive and officer positions available to sisters and I have had the privilege of serving my sorority as an officer this past year. It has been a blast!

What type of impact do you hope to make?

Our greatest hope is to spread the word about Easter Seals and St. Jude and all the wonderful services these organizations provide to families in need. We want to inspire people to help others and get involved in the community. As our chapter of ESA continues to grow in size, we hope that our presence is becoming more and more known on campus so that other sororities, fraternities, and organizations will be eager to partner with us and help others.

Who are you serving in this sorority?

Our two main philanthropies are St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and Easter Seals Disability Services. Each semester we organize one main event for each of these. Some philanthropic events we have organized are bingo nights, Gamecock Family Feud, paint twister, dodgeball tournaments, Pie-a-Tiger, and Rock-a-Thon. We even have the amazing opportunity to visit St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis, Tennessee each year. I am going for the first time this month with a bunch of my sisters and I cannot wait to see the children who we are helping with all of our efforts. While our main focus lies with Easter Seals and St. Jude, we also help others like Pets Inc., assisted living facilities, homeless shelters, The Salvation Army, Harvest Hope and so many more!

Getting involved with Epsilon Sigma Alpha has not only brought me joy from helping others, but has also given me a sense of purpose, helped me find my life-long friends, and helped me find myself. Wherever you choose to spend your college years, I highly encourage you to get involved on campus and try volunteering with an organization that has meaning to you!

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Service Saturdays

What’s up guys! My name is Justice Hill and I’m the first person in my family to go to college. I was born in San Antonio, Texas, but I have lived in Anderson, South Carolina for most of my life. I graduated from a small high school called Belton–Honea Path High School. I applied to two colleges during my senior year of high school, Clemson University and the University of South Carolina. I ultimately decided on attending USC because when I took a campus tour it really felt like home to me. All of the faculty were really friendly and answered every question I had to the best of their ability. I am currently double majoring in Anthropology and Chinese Studies and I must say that it has been really rewarding so far. Since coming to Carolina I have also joined many organizations. I have joined the Anthropology Student Association and have recently received the position of treasurer. I am also in two service organizations called Gamecock Connection and the Multicultural Outreach Student Team. I have also have other opportunities to perform service in the community such as participating in Service Saturday.

Service Saturday is an event sponsored by the Leadership and Service Center that occurs once a month. This event allows USC students to sign up for service that generally lasts three hours and it provides transportation and lunch for participating. As a member of the Capstone Scholars, I have to perform an act of service every semester. Service Saturday was an event that I and many people on my hall wanted to participate and give back to the community of Columbia, SC.

Early that Saturday morning my group and I stood in a long line to sign up for a site during Service Saturday. When we finally got to the front of the line all of the indoor jobs were filled so we ended up being placed at the Harbison State Forest site, which we were none too pleased about. It was chilly and wet that morning and everything was muddy. None of us really wanted to be mucking around in the mud, but we listened to our guide and set off down a path into the forest. Our guide armed us with pulaskis and instructed us to clear parts of the forest paths that were being covered with debris from drainage. As we started to work we realized that this was not going to be an easy job. We had to scrape away the top layer of leaves that was covering the trail and then we had to shovel the loose mud away to reveal the path underneath. Covered in mud, my group and I took a step back to look at the end product of our work. The path looked a hundred times better than it did when we first started. The forest guides also opened up the paths again and allowed hikers and bikers to traverse them once again. As each of these people passed by they all looked at our mud covered bodies and said thank you. I don’t think I realized just how important this work was until that moment. We were taking care of a path so that other people could appreciate a state forest and Mother Nature. The guides that were leading us do this every day. They don’t complain or anything. This gave me a new appreciation for this occupation. At the end of the Service Saturday, even though I was tired, I felt good about what I had accomplished that day. I made the Harbison State Forest a better and safer place to be for visitors.

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Service Has No Limits

Hey again! As you know, my name is Kirsten Hobbs and I am a junior Psychology major at USC. I am also a big proponent of volunteering and service learning. I am very passionate about educational change and changing the foster care system. My freshman year, I jumped right into volunteering during my second month on campus. I had the opportunity to volunteer with an after school program at Irmo Middle School called Challenging Horizons. I helped a group of sixth graders with their homework as well as reading.

I have also participate as a member of a Relay for Life team each year of college. I raise money in honor of my grandmothers, who have survived breast and lymphatic cancer.

I am currently a student in a service learning class called University 201: Service to Youth. I highly recommend it to all upperclassmen, regardless of major. The goal of this course is to learn, through volunteer service at a local organization, about the true meaning of volunteering and the impact it has. With University 201, I volunteer at the Department of Juvenile Justice (DJJ)’s Birchwood High School as an English mentor, and at Camp Aspen, a step-down rehabilitation program from DJJ.

I am also a member of a campus organization known as Together We Rise, a chapter of a larger non-profit organization based in California that advocates for local foster children. With this organization, we have raised thousands of dollars for “Sweet Cases”: duffel bags full of children’s items such as stuffed animals, coloring books, and crayons. We also hosted a party for about 40 local foster children at the Three Fountains Skating Arena.

During our city’s time of need after the flood, I volunteered with others from my religious campus organization, Cru, to take apart two local families’ homes for them to be rebuilt. We spent a whole Sunday afternoon tearing apart the rotting frame of the houses so that the families would have less of a debt when they  repair these homes.

I have also been an active volunteer with the Opportunity Scholars Program at USC, including being a mentor, a program coordinator, and recently becoming a University 101 Peer Leader. I also highly recommend being a part of the University 101 Peer Leader program your junior or senior year because it is such a rewarding experience.

These experiences are something that have sincerely changed my life and I continue to learn from. There are easy ways to get involved with volunteering here at the University of South Carolina or local businesses and schools. I definitely recommend volunteering at least once before you graduate because it is such a reward and you meet so many great people and form strong bonds.

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Giving Back, Having Fun

It’s National Volunteer Month and all month long we will bring you stories from our current students who demonstrate that their service to the community has “NO LIMITS”. Today we hear from freshman Anna Brockman.

When I first arrived at Carolina last semester as a freshman, I was looking for ways to get involved on campus. Throughout high school, I had been involved in community service and volunteering through student government at school, service projects through my church and community outreach with my family. I wanted to find a way in which I could continue to give back to the community while having fun in college. I found just what I was looking for through Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a philanthropic service sorority dedicated to serving the community both near and far.

One of Epsilon Sigma Alpha’s primary philanthropies is St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, an institution dedicated to being “at the cutting-edge of the latest medicine and research in fighting life-threatening pediatric diseases such as cancer, all while freeing families from the biggest burden in getting life-saving healthcare: the cost. Coming into college, I had heard of St. Jude, but wasn’t well informed or invested in the vision. Since joining ESA, who proudly advocates and fundraises for St. Jude, I’ve cultivated a passion for the cause.

Through the Sigma Phi chapter of ESA, I have had the opportunity to serve St. Jude in a couple of different capacities, my favorite of which happened last fall. I had the opportunity to volunteer for the St. Jude Walk in Charleston, SC. A group of sisters and I drove down Friday evening, spent the night in Charleston, and were ready at the event site early Saturday morning. We set up tents, tables and the track before preparing for everyone to arrive. My primary job during the event was to direct participants along the track. When they neared the finish line, I got to celebrate their finish with cheering and cowbells. It was truly rewarding to see cancer survivors, their families and their friends enjoy the experience together. It was especially meaningful to be able to share this great experience with the great friends that I had met through ESA.

Through Epsilon Sigma Alpha, I have had the opportunity to become friends with some of the most selfless, generous, giving girls that I have ever met. We all have a love of service in common, but all have different passions and causes that we care about. This allows for a consistently full schedule of unique activities and projects in which we can choose to participate. As a sorority, we have raised money for worthy causes in a variety of ways. We have danced for 14 hours straight at Dance Marathon, played Bingo with friends, and thrown pies at sisters’ faces, among many other things. These activities sound silly and fun, but we were able to raise a lot of money to help people who needed it. Through serving with ESA, I’ve learned that there is no service too small—anything and everything that you can do to help someone else makes a difference.

For more information on St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, click here.

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Adjusting to College Life

Hey y'all! My name is Kirsten Hobbs, and I’m a first-generation college student from Conway, South Carolina. I study Psychology and Education, working towards a future as a high school guidance counselor. I hope this blog helps anyone who wants to learn more about student life at the University of South Carolina or tips about how to survive just being a college student in general.

As an incoming freshman, I was a white, narrow-minded, lower middle class woman from South Carolina who had never lived outside of a small town before. You can imagine the culture shock of moving from an area of maybe 19,000 people to 133,000 in the capitol of the state. Moving away and living in a traditional style residence hall really opened my eyes to the possibilities of being open-minded. I met and continue to meet so many great people; especially my floormates, who greatly contributed to my adjustment to college life.

I also came to college with a boyfriend back home. To be honest, he was a weight on my college experience. I look back and know that I missed out on important things with my friends because I was so determined to make that relationship work. We ended things about two months in, but I know this is not the case for some long distance couples. I didn’t visit home as often afterwards, which was a stress reliever that I was thankful for. I love my family, but I was never one to love being home much.

I chose not to be a part of Greek Life because I never felt like that was the right path for me, and that’s okay. You don’t need to be in a sorority or fraternity to be a part of a family. Carolina is my family; each and every person I see on and off campus that has shared the experience of a Gamecock education. College is about finding your niche, where you fit in the world. Freshman year is just the beginning of your transformation from a little caterpillar to a big, beautiful butterfly.

Sophomore year brings many new challenges: living off-campus; paying your own bills; not having a resident mentor or “quiet hours” after 10 p.m. This is the year I had to pay for my own car repairs when the brakes went out (make sure you find a reliable garage before you have an issue so that you do not get manipulated in the deal). Living off-campus also made studying more of a challenge. Since freshman year is mostly about core classes, sophomore year is when you really start major-specific classes. In most cases, this is the time when most students are trying to figure out how to get into their upper divisions. The library was not within walking distance anymore, and living on my own made my days more unstructured to find the time to study at home. Even though I am a Psychology major and only had three class requirements to advance to upper division, I learned the true meaning behind “Sophomore Slump”. It felt just like Senioritis from high school. Everyone seems to hit a wall during their sophomore and junior years, but I learned some ways to work through it. It’s important to reward yourself. Don’t burn out during midterms or finals weeks. Take some time for yourself or with friends to relax and recharge; maybe have some fun. After all, college is supposed to be the best time of our lives, right?

My third year at Carolina has been very trying. Perseverance is definitely a required skill as a college student. Luckily, perseverance is one of my strongest qualities. I am a first-generation college student in several leadership positions on campus including clubs and the peer leader program. I am also an active volunteer in many different off campus facilities. I never would have seen myself where I am now as a high school student. College has really opened my eyes to things I had never understood before. I have progressed to the late Chrysalis stage in my internal development. Looking back on my underclassman experience, I have to give more credit to a wonderful program that I am a part of. The Opportunity Scholars Program is a community within Carolina where every member is maintained on full scholarship or with minimal loans on the basis that we wouldn’t have gotten such a great education without it. Some of my closest friends are a part of this program and we are a really tight knit family of about 500 undergraduates. 

Something I’m grateful for learning is finding ways to minimize spending the full amount of money on most things. I don’t live off of ramen noodles like the stereotypical college student does, but I also don’t live on steaks and seafood. I think an important lesson I learned my first semester of sophomore year was that I can’t do it without a meal plan. I’m not a big cook, and buying groceries and take-out really takes a toll on my bank account. Some people do just fine cooking for themselves every day, but I tried that and found that my best option was to stick with a small meal plan; I have tried both the 5 meal plan (unavailable for freshmen) and the “declining balance” or flex plan. My personal favorite is definitely flex because you have no allotted time to eat; instead, you may spend it anytime you’re hungry. I hope these tips have been helpful, and you are definitely making a good decision by choosing Carolina. You are home.

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Saying “Yes”

Hi! My name is Anna Pishko. Nice to meet you. I am a junior Public Health major with a minor in Women and Gender Studies. I’m your “usual college hippie” as my dad says. I grew up in Chatham, New Jersey, about 700 miles from Columbia. I grew up so close to New York City you couldn't really see the stars at night.

Frankly, the biggest thing that drew me to the University of South Carolina was the athletics. I grew up going to professional sports games all my life, and this eventually lead me to a deep routed passion for all things sports. My dad went through a very intense phase during the fall of my senior year. I like to call this phase, “football envy”. Meaning, whatever college football game was on at the time he would inevitably ask, “What about there? Heard it’s nice”.  While this was annoying at the time, it did bring my attention to South Carolina one afternoon. After some research, I realized that U of SC had the perfect mix of academics and athletics. I get to watch SEC football and get a great education at the same time- it's a win win.

Another reason I eventually decided on the University of South Carolina was that I really wanted to get away from my comfort zone. U of SC is actually one of the closer universities I applied to. Being out of my comfort zone is my favorite place to be. I knew coming to South Carolina I would be able to surround myself with different types of people. I would be challenged and mentally stimulated every single day. I would grow as a person every single day.  The choice of curriculum at U of SC is diverse and challenging. You can take archery, gender in politics, or quantum mechanics.

There are very unique opportunities that are offered here at the U of SC. You can go to the beach and go skiing within a few hours (yes, ski, on actual snow. Thank you Appalachian Mountains.) This year, we are fortunate enough to have every single candidate for president visit Columbia. How many people can say that about their school?

My advice for you as you continue your college search is to look at the schools closely. Pick somewhere you can see yourself blossom.  Pick a challenging school and work hard. And probably most importantly, go to a school where you can see the stars.

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Pi Beta Phi: The Sorority That Changed My Life

Hi! My name is Hannah Bute. I’m a sophomore Criminal Justice major from Flora, Illinois (a really small town in the southern part of the state).

 When I moved to the South last year, I didn’t know what to expect. I certainly didn’t expect to join a sorority. I never thought of myself as the sorority type. But when I saw Pi Beta Phi Leadership Development Consultants (LDCs) on Greene Street asking women to go through their recolonization process (SC Alpha had been off campus since the 80’s), I knew that it was my chance to get involved on campus. Being an out-of-state student was hard because I didn’t know anyone and I’d never really been on my own before. Little did I know that a few months later I’d be an initiated member of the best sisterhood I’d ever know.

Pi Beta Phi is my home away from home. I’ve been introduced to hundreds of women from all over the world, from different backgrounds and with all sorts of careers who graduated from different universities, but the one thing we all have in common is Pi Beta Phi. It’s something bigger than all of us that binds us all together, bringing together thousands of strong, powerful women to help give the gift of literacy to children. When I went to our convention this past June, I was still unsure then that Pi Phi was the perfect fit for me, but seeing hundreds of alumnae all excited as can be to meet SC Alpha for the first time since our recolonization made me realize that this organization really is the best decision I’ve made since coming to college.

March is Women’s History Month, and my sorority has embraced it with vigor. This past weekend was Gal’s Weekend, and part of that was to bring our moms or another significant woman in our life to a brunch in which they learned about all the awesome things Pi Phi has done in the community. Seeing my mom, who herself was never in a sorority, learn about all the ways in which Pi Phi has impacted others’ lives as well as my own life was something I’ll never forget. My mom thanked LDC Nicole from the bottom of her heart because she realized how much Pi Phi has meant to me and how it has helped me grow into the person I am today.

Pi Beta Phi is extremely involved on and off campus. We hosted Fraternity Day of Service right here in Columbia this past February where we donated 20,000 books to local schools. We held Pie a Pi Phi last week to raise money for our philanthropy. We held a reading at South Kilbourne Elementary School on Dr. Seuss’s birthday. Annually, we go to South Kilbourne for our Champions Are Readers (CAR) program where we read to the kids and participate in activities with them. We also participate as a group in things like Derby Days and Greek Week on campus, as well as Relay for Life and Dance Marathon.

 Pi Beta Phi is all about celebrating women and our achievements. It’s about building friendships to last a lifetime, growing intellectually and personally, and being true to yourself and to your sisters as we work to better the world one book at a time. And in all honesty, that’s what made me fall in love with this organization. Not only did Pi Phi help me to become a stronger and more independent woman, but it gave me some of the best friends I’ve ever had and brought me together with women whose goals reflect my own. Being in a sorority isn’t about all the stuff you see on TV. It’s about being a family and having each other’s backs when times are tough and celebrating the times that aren’t. Looking back at all the time I’ve spent with my sisters and looking forward to the times ahead, I can honestly say that taking that chance and signing up for Pi Beta Phi’s recruitment process has been the best risk I’ve ever taken, and I wouldn’t trade my experience as a Pi Phi for anything.

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Perspectives of a First-Generation College Student

My name is Jarvia Meggett and I am a first-generation college student! This is something that I say with much pride.  Being a first-generation college student can be a fearful, yet exciting life-changing event. There is this fear that “I may not be able to do it” or a feeling of too much pressure on me, but remember you can do it!! The excitement comes when you think of this new opportunity you are about to experience that you can share with your family and friends and motivate them to experience it for themselves.

My family was overly supportive of my decision to come to college. In fact, they made the decision for me. They did not want me to follow in their footsteps but instead be better than them and take opportunities that they did not. The support of my family helped me the most. When I felt like giving up, they would not allow it and motivated me to continue on.

I think USC is the best school for first-generation college students. I’m not sure how successful I would have been had I not made the decision to come here. Not only did they offer financial support but they offered mental, emotional and physical support. They provided me with a family at the University to be here for me when I was not able to be with my family. My parents did not know anything about FAFSA, helping me apply for college or register for classes. I was taught those skills by a mentor who was assigned to me, my advisor and my personal financial aid staff.

I am a member of the Opportunity Scholars Program, a program offered by the university to help first-generation college students succeed. The staff of this program helped me all four years in every way possible. 

They know our needs and they teach us how utilize opportunities and programs to meet our needs. The staff is even there for us after office hours. If you need them, they will be there. The program also connected me with other first-generation college students. We became a family, one who supported each and never allowed each other to give up. I’ve developed long lasting friendships and bonds from this program. If I can do it, you can too! Always remember “you can and you will!!”

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#UofSCYes!

Hi everyone! My name is Savanna Ivill and I am a third-year undergraduate student from Maryland pursuing a degree in Public Health. I just wanted to tell you a little bit about what made me say “Yes!” to the University of South Carolina. I hope my entries interest you and help you make your college decision. Enjoy!

After 12 college visits I had narrowed my decision down to two universities: one back in my home state (the easy, comfortable choice), and the University of South Carolina. I was really looking for a school with a larger student body, an urban environment and warm weather. Out of all the schools I toured, my mind and my heart always returned to USC even though the distance from home was intimidating to me. My dad said something to me one day that has stuck with me ever since and ultimately helped me make my decision to come here. He said, “College is your chance to live wherever you want for four years, with nothing holding you back”. After that, the decision was crystal clear to me—Carolina! Besides having the physical environment I sought in a university, one of the most attractive qualities of USC from my perspective is the number of out-of-state students. Nearly half of the student body is in the same position as me—taking a risk and moving far from home. I’m so glad I took the leap and went with my heart, rather than letting my fears overcome me because I quickly learned that I had nothing to fear but fear itself.  I have actually made connections with so many students here after finding out we are both from the same home state. Talking it through with other out-of-state students, my resident mentor, and staff at the counseling center, quickly helped me adjust to life far from home. Additionally, there are so many academic and extracurricular opportunities on campus that it really was not difficult to make friends, find my place, and keep myself involved. Carolina became my home away from home in a very short matter of time!

A huge factor in my decision to apply and then commit to USC was that I had no clue what I wanted to study. I entered college undecided but all the possibilities and opportunities were at my fingertips because there are a huge variety of majors, over 100, in fact! With the help of staff members from the Career Center and Student Success Center, I was able to declare a major by the end of my first year and there is not a doubt in my mind that I was meant to be a public health major. I soon discovered such a passion for it with the help of the Dean of the Arnold School of Public Health, who sends out emails multiple times per week with nearby health-related job opportunities, internships, seminars, guest speaker events, and research opportunities. Thanks to the friendly and informative faculty and staff members in the Arnold School of Public Health there have been countless opportunities to immerse myself in the field and reinforce my feeling that I chose the absolute right major for me.

There are countless reasons why USC was the right choice for me, but I will conclude with one more aspect that I think is such an amazing quality of Carolina. In addition to coming to college to study, it was also important to me to get involved outside the classroom and really find another purpose for being here. Fortunately, Carolina has got that covered! My first year, I discovered Epsilon Sigma Alpha, a service sorority on campus. Through this organization I found a diverse group of students who share many of the same interests and values as myself. Joining a student organization creates a smaller community within a large university and also helps you find students with similar interests. Here at Carolina, there are over 400 student organizations to choose from! If you are service-oriented like me, I recommend taking advantage of service opportunities provided through the Leadership and Service Center (LSC). 

The Leadership and Service Center in Russell House (our student union on campus) sends emails informing students of weekly volunteer opportunities in various fields such as Education and Childcare, Health and Senior Care, and on-campus opportunities. My personal favorite opportunities through the LSC are the impact weekly service trips, where each week you can sign up to volunteer for a few hours at an organization on campus or in Columbia (with transportation provided, all for free!). What better way to take a study break after a long week than to go serve at the local animal shelter?!

I could go on and on all day about why I love the University of South Carolina, but I will leave you with this. Thanks to my time at Carolina, I have discovered my passions, expanded my academic horizons, prepared for my future career, discovered myself through service, traveled to other continents with the friends I have met here, and found my home away from home. Thank you for reading!

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National Nutrition Month: Project Vida

March is National Nutrition Month and we are highlighting ways in which University of South Carolina students and organizations are helping others to lead healthy lives. Today, learn about the student organization, Project Vida from president Adriana Zavala.

What is Project Vida and what does the organization do to promote healthy living?

Project Vida is a service club that makes biweekly trips to two children shelters in the Columbia area to teach them about healthy living through the interactive lessons, games and activities. Our goal is to encourage children to incorporate healthy habits into their everyday life. Our lessons include topics such as exercise, hygiene, first aid, body systems, and of course, nutrition! For our nutrition presentation our lesson focuses on the different food groups and how to balance our diets in order to get all the nutrients we need each day. The activities include: food group trivia, make your own trail mix, and decorate your own reusable grocery bag.

How did you get involved with Project Vida?

Project Vida is a great opportunity for students who are passionate about healthy living and want to become more involved in the community. I got involved in Project Vida after seeing them at the student organization fair my sophomore year and I have loved the experiences that it has offered me.

How can other students get involved?

We meet every other Monday 7-8 pm in Honors room B110. Our visits to the shelters are made every other Thursday 7-8 pm and every other Friday 4-5 pm. Anyone is welcome to join, we always love having new people!

To learn more about Project Vida, click here.

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The Capstone Experience

Hi, all!  My name is Kylie Sheaffer and I’m a sophomore broadcast journalism student.  I’m involved with campus media and am currently working on a student-run television show called Carolina Tonight.  I’m also a student employee and have a job working with undergraduate admissions on campus as a telecounselor. Lastly, I’m a member of the Capstone Scholars program here at the University of South Carolina. I’ve been involved with Capstone since the beginning of my first year at Carolina, and have loved being a part of the program.

If you’re like me, then I’m sure we shared the same kinds of questions regarding our invitation to the Capstone program at the University of South Carolina. “What is a Capstone scholar?” “What kind of work would I have to do to stay in Capstone?” “Is this like Honors?” No worries-I’m here to help answer some of your questions.  Whether you’ve just been accepted to the program, or are interested in joining Capstone in the future, there are many wonderful reasons to choose Capstone.

One of the best things about Capstone to me is that it isn’t a huge time commitment.  If you’re interested in being involved on campus, Capstone requirements won’t hinder your ability to branch out and try other clubs and commitments as well.  Students involved in the program are required to complete four pillars a semester, but they aren’t limited to only four.  It’s up to you if you’d like to go beyond the requirements of the program. The four pillars focus on academics, service, social involvement, and leadership.  Academically, you can fulfill one of your pillars by maintaining a strong GPA.  You can fulfill your second pillar by devoting time to your community, and I’d personally recommend working at one of Capstone’s “Service Saturdays” because it allows you to fulfill a pillar and meet other Capstone students at the same time.  

The Social pillar is achieved by meeting one-on-one with a Capstone advisor. The purpose of Capstone advisement is to check on a student’s well-being and to help them set goals while at USC. Finally, the leadership pillar can be completed by facing one of your fears or by really committing yourself to a leadership role on campus. Capstone president, Dr. Hickey, really inspired me and my decisions for fulfilling this pillar because he’s accomplished many fears in his life.  He’s afraid of heights, and yet he’s summited Mt. Everest and frequently goes sky-diving.  I’m not saying that you have to go sky-diving to fulfill this pillar, but you should try to push yourself out of your comfort zone.  It’s made me a more well-rounded individual and has pushed me to accomplish goals I never would’ve expected myself to complete.

I have loved my Capstone experience at USC.  A huge benefit for joining Capstone is the opportunity to network with all of the students involved.  It’s a great connection and some of the best friends I’ve made at USC were because of the Capstone program.  My Capstone U101 and my Capstone English 101 class are two of my most favorite courses I’ve taken at USC.  They led me to my best friends and helped me to develop a great relationship with both professors.  There are many great reasons to choose the Capstone program at USC, and I’m so excited for you and your future journey.

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The Highs and Lows of Freshman Year

Hi! My name is Bri DellaSala and I am a sophomore, Psychology major and Social Work minor at the University of South Carolina. I have been chosen to write a blog about the highs and the lows of freshman year, so I hope this helps out any incoming students who do not know what to expect at USC.

 I believe the greatest high of freshman year is finding the place where you fit in and having the opportunity to experience new things. Since your freshman year is really the first time that you will be away from home, you are able to meet a more diverse group of people and can step out of your comfort zone; you can try things that you have not been able to before, and you may even learn new things about yourself as well. Whether you choose to attend a football game with the people in your residence hall or join one of our 400+ organizations that sounds the most interesting to you, I encourage you to take a chance and get involved! You never know what opportunities might present themselves!

Although college is the best time of your life, it is also the most difficult. You do come here to get an education and are expected to do well. With that being said, one of the lows of freshman year is adjusting to a full course load and learning how to time-manage. In high school, you might have had a couple of quizzes here and there and an assignment or two due every week, but in college, you realize that most of your assignments, projects, and exams fall under the same weeks. You might feel overwhelmed, and you may have to sacrifice a few hours of sleep and live off of coffee, but I promise that things get better and you eventually learn how to balance everything. 

If you have been at USC for a while and you realize that you are still having trouble fitting in or managing your busy schedule, take a trip to our Leadership and Service Center or make an appointment with ACE Coaching. I know I have done both of those, and I am able to say that doing so enhanced my college experience. Thanks for reading, and I hope you enjoyed!

[gamecockvoices]

The Waiting Game

Hello! My name is Anna Brockman and I am very excited to be writing to you about my acceptance to the University of South Carolina! But, before I do that, I’ll tell you a little bit about myself. I hail from the grand and illustrious Sparkle City (Spartanburg, SC). I have had the interesting experience of being from a family of both Carolina and Clemson fans, but thankfully, mostly Carolina fans. I am currently a freshman in the Honors College double-majoring in International Business and Marketing, with a minor in Spanish.

I applied to USC knowing that it was where I wanted to go. I grew up surrounded by some of the biggest Gamecock fans ever, I had been enchanted by the beautiful campus, and my wardrobe was exclusively garnet and black. After my first official campus visit at the beginning of my senior year of high school, I was enthusiastic, eager, and impatient to get to college. I immediately started a Pinterest board for my dorm room, started shopping, and drove my parents crazy with my incessant chatter about dorm room décor. I mused about the friendships I would form and the organizations that I would join.

Aside from all of this normal(ish) excitement, I also wanted more than anything to attend the USC Honors College. Knowing that it was the top public honors college in the country, I realized that it would be very competitive and probably difficult to get accepted. My parents were my biggest supporters, motivating and pushing me to do my very best all throughout high school so that I could have a real shot at going to the school of my dreams. While they did believe wholeheartedly in my abilities, they were nervous for me. My dad, worried about the possibility of me not getting accepted, tried to keep me from getting my hopes up. He would remind me of all of my college options in the hopes of protecting my heart from disappointment. But, I knew what I wanted—I wanted Carolina. In late October, I submitted my application and the anticipation set in.

In December, I got phone call from my mom telling me that a letter from Carolina had arrived at my house. I was out with friends at the time of the call, but we all hurried to my house where my parents were waiting. I took the letter from my mom as everyone watched nervously. I ripped open the letter and saw that the first three words were, “I am delighted…”. I breathlessly shared the news and we all went out to dinner to celebrate. Finally, I had closure about my future plans and I couldn’t have been happier.

For all of you prospective students out there that are anxiously awaiting your acceptance letter, I get it. I understand the mixture of excitement and nervousness and anxiety that you’re experiencing. That’s totally normal! I also understand that having to wait so long for such an important decision can be stressful. However, once you submit your application, there is nothing more you can do. That being said, enjoy your senior year while you wait! Stay involved at your high school, cherish friendships, and spend time with your family. Get excited for college, but don’t wish any time away.

I hope this blog helps you with your wait! I can’t wait to share more about my experience at Carolina!

[gamecockvoices]

Worth the Wait

Hi everybody!! My name is Skyler Ruff, and I am a first year undergraduate student here at Carolina. I plan to study International Business and Marketing while minoring in German and Spanish! I am from Atlanta, Georgia, so I am fairly used to Southern living and I have come to love Southern things such as warm weather and Chik fil A. For example, I am writing this post from the lawn outside my dorm, enjoying the nice 70 degree and sunny weather, and I could not be happier.

Quite honestly, attending USC has always been a goal of mine. After touring the campus and falling in love with the university, I became dead set on attending college here. So naturally, the months preceding being admitted to USC were some of the most stressful and long months of my life. I applied early admission in October of 2015 and spent the following weeks eagerly checking the mailbox each day when I came home from school. Luckily, I got my admission letter very quickly, receiving my admission packet in early November.

Being accepted to USC was the best feeling in the world. My parents surprised me with Gamecocks T-shirts and other apparel, which I proudly wore a little too often for the rest of my senior year. I began researching all the housing options, classes, clubs, sororities, and other things on campus in which I could get involved. Receiving my acceptance letter was such a great thing for me because I knew that I had finally found my new home.

To any prospective students waiting to be admitted, all I can say is that USC is worth the wait. Deciding to come to USC was quite honestly one of my best decisions, and I am so glad that I was given this opportunity. If you have already turned in your application and are anxiously awaiting a response, don't stress. That may sound slightly hypocritical coming from me because my weeks waiting for my admission letter were laden with anxiety, but looking back I should have just relaxed because there was really nothing more that I could do. 

First semester senior year can be so stressful with college admissions, but I promise you that applying to USC was beyond worth it. By receiving my admission letter, I basically received an invitation to come live at my new home, meet some of my best friends, and find so many amazing opportunities.  

I wish you the best of luck with the admissions process, and please just remember not to stress yourself out too much. Go gamecocks!!

[gamecockvoices]

National Entrepreneurship Week: Mario Cuadros

As our celebration of National Entrepreneurship Week comes to a close, 2014 Public Relations graduate and owner of Stesso, Mario Cuadros, shares how his experiences at the University of South Carolina shaped his success.

Briefly describe your business and what drove you to start it?

Stesso, which means a reflection of the self, was founded from the desire to provide an avenue for individuals to unveil their personality and create their identity. Our guiding principle is to provide comfortable, fashionable products that will initiate the journey to join a growing culture that is inspired to express their passion, pride and style. Our journey begins by offering colorful socks that are inspired by our southern roots and all the cultural influences we have seen from around the world.

What was your major and why did you choose it?

Public Relations. I fall into the category of “I didn’t choose my major, my major chose me”. I began my freshman year as a Sport & Entertainment Management major, but quickly realized that I was limiting myself given the lack of opportunities available with such a specific career. I wanted to work in sports at some capacity, but just didn’t know how. I had always been a strong writer so I began looking at a career in journalism. I then found myself reading about public relations on the J-School website and decided to take an intro class with Professor Ranta. I loved the class and decided I would change my major to Public Relations.

 What experiences at USC helped to foster your entrepreneurial drive?

I believe every experience I had at USC planted part of the seed that would lead me to become an entrepreneur. I was always looking for ways to improve what was being offered to us as students. Whether it was easier methods of transportation to football games or Five Points to streamlining communications with fellow students. I never quite managed to follow up on these ideas, but it led me to begin thinking in an entrepreneurial way – what do people need that they don’t know they need yet or how can I improve what they already have?

How did USC prepare you for opening your own business?

The networking opportunities are something that I think everyone needs to take advantage of. Whether you’re bitten by the entrepreneurial bug or not, attending seminars, luncheons or any other events will help you meet people and grow your experiences as you prepare for that first job out of college. I was able to attend various seminars and listen to a great cast of speakers during my time at USC. From listening to Stephen A. Smith, Ross Finkel and others, I was able to learn from their experiences and begin to chart how I wanted my career path to evolve.

What student organizations helped you the most?

Looking back at my time at USC, I definitely regret not joining more organizations. There’s so many to choose from that I’m sure anyone can find the right fit. There are two organizations that I really enjoyed being a part of. The first was being a sports writer for the Daily Gamecock, the student newspaper. I was able to cover many sporting events and learn the different dynamics involved with each. I was also lucky enough to have been part of a great group of writers that really brought out the best in my abilities (since we all wanted to cover football, but there was only room for one). During my time at the paper, I learned how to be a part of a team and saw firsthand how teamwork is able to produce a polished final product. Another organization that I really enjoyed was Students Associated for Latin America or SALA (now LASO). During my time at SALA, I was able to meet many new people from different backgrounds and who had different interests. Networking opportunities are endless and you truly make friends that will last a lifetime. You never know who you’re going to meet during your time at USC. It may be someone you just have class with or someone that can become a future business partner.

Advice for students who may want to pursue a similar path?

The best advice I can give for students who are interested in entrepreneurship is to simply take the leap. We often hear people say, “it’s not the right time” or “my plan isn’t ready”. One thing I’ve learned is that a business plan will never be perfect, but you can tweak it along the way. I would also encourage students to go out and meet as many people as they can – whether that’s joining student organizations or going up and introducing yourself to other students in class or on the Horseshoe. The fascinating aspect of entrepreneurship for me is being able to juggle multiple tasks that you may not feel comfortable with. If your expertise is in economics, you may not do your best job as a graphic designer or a website developer, but you do your best with the resources you have. However, if you’re constantly meeting people, it is inevitable that you will run into John Doe, the graphic designer at some point and he will be interested in the business opportunity you have to offer.

 Visit Stesso online www.stessostore.com.

[gamecockvoices]

National Entrepreneurship Week: Hayes Johnson

We’re nearing the end of National Entrepreneurship Week. As we continue to highlight #UofSC alumni who have started their own business, today we will focus on 2012 Visual Communications graduate Hayes Johnson, who is the founder of Rooted.

Briefly describe your business and what drove you to start it?

Rooted is a boutique marketing firm focused on branding, design, website design/development and strategy. I always had the desire to do my thing, and the thought of starting my own company was intriguing to me. I began picking up steady business as a freelancer doing various graphic design projects outside of working a 9-5 corporate job.  As business began to increase and I saw the money I could potentially make, I thought “hmm...I could do this on my own”. I’m very much a creative so corporate America was never that appealing to me anyway. It didn’t take much to push me out.

What was your major and why did you choose it?

Visual Communications. I wanted to be the one actually creating the ads and logos. I wanted to get to use my creativity to do something with journalism that was very hands-on. VisComm was just that. And more.

What experiences at USC helped to foster your entrepreneurial drive?

 1. Real-life design projects that were applicable to real world design opportunities; creating a final portfolio book that could be/and was used for post-graduation interviews.

2. Negative feedback from professors on projects that I expected to get A’s (okay maybe at least a B-) but received a letter grade far from it. This helped me create thicker skin, which is much needed in the real world when difficult clients don’t love your work. You can’t take it too personally or let someone’s subjective opinion make you feel defeated, but rather keep pushing through in order to get the job done and get it done well.

3. Internships - this was HUGE in preparing me for my entrepreneurial drive. I learned aspects of real-life job opportunities. Some that I loved, and some that I didn’t love, but helped me paint a clearer picture of what I wanted to do past Visual Communications, while growing my bank of skills that could be used far beyond VisComm.

4. Working in groups with other creative people and learning from my peers who I knew were much more talented and taking what I learned and observed in order to make myself better.

How did USC prepare you for opening your own business?

I was able to learn an actual skill (Adobe Creative Suite) that I could apply to the real world - a skill most employers were heavily seeking - that set me a part from the other 50 marketing-minded college grads applying for the same job(s) in my area who didn’t know Adobe.

What student organizations helped you the most?

Campus Crusade

Kappa Delta

University 101 Peer Leader Program

What advice would you give to students who may want to pursue a similar path?

GO FOR IT!!! Obtaining the skills you’ll get from VisComm will take you far. The money you and/or your parents are paying for you to go to college to get a degree will actually be put to use AFTER you graduate. These are skills you can take with you wherever you go. Even FOUR YEARS AFTER you’ve graduated, like me :) AND you can essentially work anywhere as long as you have a reliable Mac and Adobe Creative Suite :)

Visit Rooted online at http://rootedbrands.com.

The Career Center is the resource that helps students at the University of South Carolina obtain internships in fields of interest. For more information on internships at the University of South Carolina click here. 

As Hayes mentioned, she was a Peer Leader for the University 101 program. University 101 is an academic program that fosters the success, development of first-year students. To learn more about U101, click here. 

[gamecockvoices]

National Entrepreneurship Week: Caletta Harris-Bailey

As National Entrepreneurship Week continues, for today’s Q&A, we caught up with 2004 Broadcast Journalism graduate Caletta Harris-Bailey who owns Reel2Real Productions.

 Briefly describe your business and what drove you to start it?

I own Reel2Real Productions, a full service video production company.  We direct, produce, film and edit TV commercials, promo videos, TV/web shows, live events, create marketing materials and more. I was driven to start my own company because I wasn't very good at taking authority in the workplace, especially when the employer took advantage of the employees.  I had about ten jobs before I was eighteen and decided that I was not made to work for anyone and that "one day" I was going to own my own company.

 What was your major and why did you choose it?

I chose Broadcast Journalism because I thought I wanted be an anchorwoman, but soon discovered my passion was behind-the-scenes working with video cameras and editing software.

What experiences at USC helped to foster your entrepreneurial drive?

I gained much experience by filming my own news packages and being able to create (through writing and editing) stories that aired on television.

How did USC prepare you for opening your own business?

During the last semester of my senior year, I was given options to explore and shape my skills for the industry through audio mixing, writing, filming and editing my own projects.

What student organizations helped you the most?

WUSC 90.5FM

What advice do you have for students who may want to pursue a similar path?

I would tell students to learn as much as you can, especially after you graduate. Technology is changing everyday, so you need to do your own research and gain hands on experience to get ahead at an early age.  Also, take classes or learn how to do conduct business.  If you want to be an entrepreneur, you need to know more than just your craft. You need to be able to wear many hats!

 Visit Reel2Real Productions online at http://www.r2rpro.com.