Student Blogger: Ava Karlstad

I absolutely love winter break, having a few weeks to hang out at home (or wherever) is wonderful. Yet, I often find myself with a good amount of free time. Over the past four breaks, I have curated a list of ongoing tasks that I can always turn to if I want to continue to grow over break!

Being able to audition for a Broadway show was something I had never thought was possible, yet, somehow, I got the opportunity! With two days' notice, I had to get my material ready and learn the material they had provided. I was beyond nervous, mostly because I did not entirely know what to expect.

The past three and a half years have absolutely flown by, but I believe that is because I have had the opportunity to take full advantage of my time at USC. I have gathered so many new thoughts along the way, all of which have crafted me to become a better, more mature version of myself!

I can proudly say that I have curated my dance/theatre bag to be equipped for any situation. I really value being prepared for as many situations as possible, so I thought I might share some of my non-negotiables when it comes to packing my bag!

Musical theatre captivates me because it's the ultimate fusion where dance, music, and story create something more powerful than any single element alone. After my first recital, I experienced something profound - the ability to move people without saying a word. That moment of pure connection with an audience drives everything I do.

As my semester abroad in Paris wraps up, I thought I would conquer something I felt helped me grow the most: solo traveling. Doing anything alone is intimidating. People will often mention a fear of being judged or being pitied, I am here to tell you that doing things alone and feeling comfortable in it is such a freeing thing!

This trip started out very unexpectedly. It began with me waking up on a Friday at 5 am to get to the train station by 7 am. However, I was in for a surprise when the line to get to the platform was incredibly long. I stood in it for about 5 minutes until I asked someone what it was for. To my bewilderment, I discovered they had found an old World War II bomb on one of the tracks and all trains that day had been canceled. I began to panic because I had tickets to see The Devil Wears Prada that night and a hotel booked, both of which would not give refunds.

Early spring hits each year and I am always faced with an overwhelming number of tasks. I am so thankful to feel overwhelmed because I know what a privilege it is. Yet, that does not stop life from feeling like a lot sometimes!

Studying abroad has been like one giant whirlwind so far. I have had the privilege of having so many new experiences and incredible moments, so I thought I would share a few of my most cherished!

In continuing my goal to have one new experience every day, I decided to get tickets to Théâtre du Lido 2's production of 'Hello Dolly!'.  It was such a blast of a night and it was so much fun to see a musical performed in Paris!

Most people I have met have urged me to study abroad. I always thought it was a good idea, but to actually be here and experiencing it is an incredibly surreal experience. I arrived in Paris on January 14 and have been running around since!

As a college student, I find it can be difficult to decide what to do with downtime. It's not often in college that you get the chance to use your time the way you want to. Though break looks different for everyone, I thought I might provide some ideas for what to do when you have nothing to do!

The whole day was one of pure bliss and nostalgia. I remembered bits and pieces from when I was younger, but there was something wonderful abut seeing it with older, more mature eyes. We conquered both California Adventure and Disneyland in one day which I found to be very sufficient.

Thanksgiving is one of my most favorite times of year. I love being able to see my family, to maintain our traditions, and to really slow down and consider what I am grateful for. I recently saw a TikTok talking about being grateful and it completely shifted my perspective.

Over fall break, I had the opportunity to visit NYC with my parents and twin sister in order to celebrate our birthday coming up on October 30 (and it's Wicked Day!). Here were my favorite moments from the weekend!

Club fairs, introductory meetings, social media promotions, all are different methods to try and get your attention. If you are like me, then you want to do it all. You may want to find your people in college or pack your resumé or gain diverse knowledge. Whatever your mindset is, I have found there are three approaches one can take in college.

College is such an exciting and monumental time and often people who love you most want to know all about it! In an effort to thank them for asking, I try to offer a holistic view of the year so far. Here are some things I have implemented so I can try and  remember as much of college as possible.