Ancillary 1
My community of the USC Trojan family is one I am fresh to but Identify with. When deciding to go to USC, many of the things to describe the culture were “University of spoiled children, coming from daddies’ money and snobby. The single story that always gets told from those about USC is the narrative of students who for some obtain large spaces; however, there is more to the Trojan family.
Many don’t see the late hours of students, several being international students, in study rooms of residential buildings working on completing their assignments for the week. Many may see the recordings of USC students going to parties instead of the dedication being at USC. The repetitive narrative of spoiled children being given everything is a small sector of the diverse culture of USC, consequently erasing the efforts and experience of those who deviate.
Many forget the qualities that an ideal Trojan member may have; one being, Ambitious — that is displayed within the undocumented Trojan family. The process of applying to schools where institutions were set up to give options for those with documentation, Undocument students demonstrated ambition through their perseverance in reaching higher education despite the opportunities. The single story of USC students being rich and easily affording to attend in a private institution evidently differs to the reality of undocumented students when they are given less opportunity to find methods to pay off their student fees. Unlike the students believed to attend USC, Undocumented students are not given the opportunity to recieve federal loans and aid; therefore, further limiting their accessibility. When part of the Trojan family, they are expected again to figure out their financial situation in order to continue to attend every year. Their ambitious quality is clearly depicted through their determination and consistent efforts in accessing higher education; however, this narrative remains hidden by the same story of all USC students being snobby, white, and rich.
Many ignore to believe that low income people attend USC instead choose to perpetuate the single story of USC. While some students get their daily Matcha Latte from Dulce, low income students are deciding on how to ration their budget for the week. They show a sense of resourcefulness and discipline with their conscious and intentional form spending. The luxury of being spoiled is not found easily within the low income community at USC. The narrative of spoiled children is easier to spot when students are walking to class with their electric scooters than those students who have limited food options for the week in their fridge — blinded to the definition of resourcefulness and discipline.
