A Traveling Potato's Humble Beginnings

Four years, three countries, three degrees. This is what the World Bachelor in Business program at the University of Southern California offers to its students. Over the next four years, our degree will take us from the sunny beaches of Los Angeles to the humid islands of Hong Kong to the bustling city of Milan. So, how did a slightly above-average high school student like me end up here? Well, my fellow potatoes, allow me to explain.

Never in a million years would I have imagined traveling across the globe to pursue my higher education. Going into my college applications, I had plans of pursuing nursing or accounting. My courses had all been STEM-focused, and I had extracurriculars that aligned with my pursuit of a healthcare career. Yet, a single university acceptance letter changed my entire life trajectory.

I had applied to the program on a whim, not knowing the program was an option until I was browsing Common App on what major to apply to. It immediately caught my eye as it not only offered a top-tier educational experience but also a once-in-a-lifetime chance to travel the world while doing so. I was equal parts nervous and excited about what it meant for my future when I opened my acceptance letter, knowing that once I accepted, there would be no going back. I had hesitated on saying yes, having already been accepted into two nursing programs and Syracuse University for a double degree in accounting and finance, but my parents ultimately encouraged me to say yes, telling me I would regret saying no.

As usual, they were right, and I can’t imagine my life had I said no. The amount and diversity of people I have met since coming to USC have been astounding. Growing up in suburban Los Angeles, the people I surrounded myself with were similar to me. They were all STEM-focused and aimed to study at a UC or a Cal State University. No one in my friend group was particularly well-off, and we had a very normal, if not boring, high school experience. Within my group, I was the most well-traveled due to my privilege and my family’s love for exploration. Yet, after entering university, I realized that I do not hold a candle to some of my peers within the cohort. I still have friends who come from middle to upper-middle families who have only traveled a handful of times, but I have also made friends who have traveled to more countries than I can count.

Not only did it open my eyes to a different social class, but it also introduced me to a plethora of incredibly driven people from a wide range of cultures. USC is not only filled with students who know how to party and rave, but also students who are working part-time, interning at Fortune 500 companies, applying to a dozen clubs on campus, and creating their own start-ups. They come from a variety of nationalities, each bringing their own cracked high school stats and unbelievable stories.

What I am trying to get at is, if a potato like me is fortunate enough to be accepted into such a niche program filled with such incredible people, I feel obligated to share my experience with whoever is curious and interested in something similar. Of course, I will not only share university life secrets, but also travel experiences and tips, as I am as passionate about travel as I am about writing. It would be a shame if I did not document my time abroad so that I have something to remember it by. So, my fellow potatoes, if you are interested in travel, university life, or just nosy about what I am up to abroad, then follow me along on my journey as I am equally curious about what life has in store for me.