College is a time when many of us move away from our hometown, carving out our own paths in life. Perhaps for the first time ever, you and your bestie are living in different cities, states, or even countries.
Maintaining friendships can be challenging, especially when living long-distance. However, building a strong support system across distances is indeed possible. With these tips, you can continue to nurture and cherish your friendships throughout your college years and beyond.
PRIORITIZE REGULAR COMMUNICATION
Communication is the foundation of any friendship, and it becomes even more crucial when you’re physically apart. Make an effort to schedule regular catch-up sessions, whether through video calls, phone calls, or even text messages. Consistency is key, so find a weekly or monthly rhythm that works for both you and your friends.
EMBRACE TECHNOLOGY
Take advantage of social media platforms, messaging apps, and videoconferencing tools to stay connected. Explore shared online spaces where you can interact, such as group chats or virtual hangouts. These platforms can help you maintain a sense of closeness and keep each other updated on your lives.
FIND SHARED ACTIVITIES
Engaging in shared activities can help you maintain a sense of connection and foster a feeling of togetherness.
Consider participating in activities that can be done remotely, such as watching a movie or TV show simultaneously while video chatting or playing online games together. By engaging in these shared experiences, you can maintain the feeling of companionship.
PLAN VISITS AND REUNIONS
While physical meet-ups may not always be possible, planning in-person visits and reunions can give you something to look forward to and deepen the connection. Coordinate with your friends to find a time when you can meet. Even if it’s only once or twice a year, having these reunions can strengthen your bond and create lasting memories.
PRACTICE EMPATHY AND UNDERSTANDING
It’s essential to be understanding of the challenges that distance can bring to a friendship. Recognize that your friends may also have busy schedules or may be dealing with their own set of responsibilities. Be patient and understanding when it comes to communication gaps or delays. Cultivating empathy will strengthen your friendships and help you navigate any difficulties that may arise.
Remember, maintaining long-distance friendships requires effort from both sides. Communicate openly with your friends about your expectations, challenges, and the level of commitment you are both willing to invest. If you find yourself struggling with maintaining long-distance friendships or any other mental or emotional challenges, don’t hesitate to reach out to the campus counseling services.
Taking an Uber or Lyft?
Here are our top safety tips
BY: RENÉE MORRISON
In the last decade, ridesharing apps like Uber and Lyft have helped usher in a new era of transportation. The convenience of on-demand ridesharing is second to none. Depending on the length of the ride and the number of people splitting the trip, the cost can be quite affordable compared with a standard taxi, making it an ideal choice for students and young people trying to save money. In a recent CampusWell survey, 70 percent of respondents said they’ve used ridesharing apps such as Uber, Lyft, or Waze at least once.
Though ridesharing apps have their perks, they also come with some risks. In Uber’s 2019–2020 safety report, 19 physical assault incidents and 3,824 sexual assault
incidents were reported. Though 99.9 percent of Uber trips end without incident, there’s still a small percentage of trips (approximately 0.0002 percent) where a “critical safety event”—such as physical or sexual assault—occurs.
“People who rideshare are not responsible for preventing assaults, and if an incident does happen, it is never the victim’s fault,” says Lenore Lukasik-Foss, director at the Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office of McMaster University in Hamilton, Ontario.
Still, it never hurts to be prepared so you can feel comfortable and secure as you ride, and to know how to respond in an emergency.
Is ridesharing with Uber or Lyft safe?
Statistically, using ridesharing apps is very safe. Even so, enough ridesharing incidents have made headlines that some degree of fear is understandable.
In reality, there’s some evidence that quick access to convenient transportation may actually lessen the risk of sexual assault incidents. A 2021 report published in Information Systems Research found that ridesharing may have helped reduce the total number of sexual assault crimes in the set areas studied. Getting into a car with a stranger has its risks—but in areas with limited transportation options and high alcohol consumption, as the study surveyed, ridesharing apps may help deter assault by giving people convenient access to transportation to get themselves out of risky situations.
When using ridesharing apps, be vigilant, but don’t let fear keep you from taking advantage of one of the most innovative conveniences of our generation.
How can I make my Uber, Lyft, or other ridesharing trip safer?
1. Request your ride while inside a building.
When you request your ride, do so from inside a building or from a good distance away from your pickup point. Wait until your car pulls up to walk out to the curb. Avoid spending time outside alone with your phone in your hand. A person who is not your Uber or
Lyft driver could be driving through the area looking for an opportunity to take advantage of someone.
2. Confirm the car, license plate, and driver before getting in the car.
Be sure that the car’s make and model match the ones displayed on your Uber or Lyft app. Confirm that the license plate is correct, and ensure that the driver looks like their profile photo. Getting in the right car with the right person is key to staying safe.
3. Check your driver’s rating
If you are uncomfortable with the low rating of your potential driver, there is no harm in canceling the ride and requesting another.
4. Ask the driver to tell you your name.
Make it a habit of having your driver confirm your name by saying, “Who are you here to pick up?” By ensuring that they know who they are here to pick up, you can be certain that they are your driver.
5. Whenever possible, ride with a friend
Riding with a friend reduces the chances that you will be taken advantage of simply because you outnumber the driver. The old adage is true: There’s strength in numbers.
Every so often, an inebriated person will need a ride home. But if you’re incapacitated and unable to call 911 if a dangerous situation arises, have a friend ride with you or wait until you’re feeling better. Likewise, if a friend has had too much to drink, join their ride to make sure they get home safely.
6. When riding alone, always ride in the back seat.
Sitting in the back seat means you are a comfortable distance from your driver. And it goes without saying: Always wear your seat belt.
rideshare and knows when and where I was picked up and dropped off.”
—Jennifer T., third-year graduate student, Texas Christian University, Fort Worth
8. Pay attention while you’re in the car.
Follow your route in the ridesharing app or on Apple Maps or Google Maps. Look out the window so you know where you’re going and if the route makes sense based on your destination.
7. Share your trip information with friends or family
You can share your ride details from within the Uber and Lyft apps. The recipient will be able to view the driver’s name, your location, and the vehicle’s license plate information. They can also receive real-time updates and watch your trip progress. It also doesn’t hurt to text a loved one or two and let them know where you were picked up, where you’re going, and when you plan to arrive. If your phone has the “share my location” feature, send that to them as well—just make sure to pay attention to your phone’s battery levels, since this type of feature can sometimes drain the battery.
“I generally don’t have ridesharing drivers take me to my house. I make sure someone knows I am using a
9. Only call or message your rideshare driver from within the Uber or Lyft app.
Uber and Lyft anonymize your phone number and the driver’s phone number to keep you safe. If you forget something of yours in the Uber, you can contact the driver through a system that blocks the digits of your phone number. Never give out your phone number or other information to a driver.
10. Consider carrying pepper spray or another form of protection.
Although you never want to find yourself in a situation where you have to defend yourself, especially in a moving car, it’s better to be safe than sorry. Your state or campus laws may have rules about what kind of self-defense accessories are allowed, so be sure to research what kind of protection is legal.
What do I do if I find myself in an unsafe ridesharing situation?
If you’re feeling unsafe, trust your gut.
Follow your intuition. It's rarely wrong. If a driver or fellow rider starts doing something that makes you feel uncomfortable or unsafe, don’t ignore it. “It was late at night, and the driver was asking too many questions and wouldn’t stop talking even when we finally got to the destination.”
—Yael K., doctoral student, Portland State University, Oregon
Use the Uber or Lyft app to call 911, or call 911 yourself.
If you’re in a dangerous situation or a situation that could soon become dangerous, call 911. The emergency button in the Uber and Lyft apps calls 911 and shares your ride information with the dispatcher.
Consider using a secondary safety app.
Apps like Find My Friends in iOS, Noonlight, and bSafe can help ensure additional peace of mind if something goes wrong within the ridesharing app.
A word on sexual assault
Although there are steps that can be taken to help prevent sexual assault, an assault that does occur is never the victim’s fault. If you are sexually assaulted, the blame is never on you, and the assault did not occur because of your behavior.
“A student who has been sexually abused should explore the resources that are available on campus—
schools are very informed these days, and they’ll be able to help,” says Lukasik-Foss. “If they prefer, many communities have off-campus support centers that can provide counseling and medical attention. These usually operate 24 hours, 7 days a week.”
If you’ve been assaulted or sexually harassed, find your nearest sexual assault response center. You could also contact campus mental health services or a 24-7 national hotline, such as RAINN at 1-800-656-4673.
Campus resources are available to USC students if they have experienced a sexual assault.
The Confidential Advocates in USC Student Health are available 24/7 to help survivors. They can arrange travel (and accompany you) to a forensic exam, arrange counseling and medical care, walk clients through reporting options, and help with arrangements for accommodations with other campus offices.
Counseling Groups
This listing of regularly offered group options may change each semester.
and leaders are subject to change. For the current list of groups and schedule,
USC.edu/MySHR. Students interested in joining a group are encouraged to create a
message and submit a Counseling Group Interest Form.
Relating To Others
Graduate Students Group
The Healing Room
Women Of Color Support Group
Mindful Well-Being
International Tea Time
International Students Group
Healing Arts Women’s Group
Bipolar Support
Relating To Others
Undergrad Students
BLaQ Tea For Black Identified LGBTQ+ Students
Queer And Questioning LGBTQIA+ Group
Gender Spectrum Transinclusive Group
Building Social Confidence
Mindfulness Skills For Daily Living
Tackling Depression and Anxiety
Creating Connections
Managing Mood
Pick up the tooth by the crown, NOT the root.
My tooth got knocked out! What should I do? 1. 2 . 3. 4. 5.
30 min
If it is dirty, gently rinse the tooth with water.
Reposition the tooth in the socket immediately, if possible. No matter what, keep the tooth moist at all times.
If it isn’t possible to keep the tooth in your mouth, put the tooth in cold whole milk or request a “Save A Tooth” kit from USC Student Health or DPS.
Arrange for immediate treatment within 30 minutes.
How to
Live, Laugh, and Live,LoveLaugh, and Love
Through Midterm Season
BY KATHRYN AURELIO ‘25
Ahhh… that time of year strikes again. You’re balancing flu season, football tailgates, DoorDash fees, and, of course, all your classes that seem to have midterms that land in a two-day period. Although you can’t change your unfortunate testing schedule, here are some ways to live, laugh, and love through this nail-biting, anxiety-inducing, and heart rate spiking few weeks.
To Live
Your body is your temple and your vessel to take these tests and write these essays in the first place, so take care of it! Here are some tips to do so.
Meal Prep: Having to cook every single day (if you don’t have a meal plan), is just another bullet point on your list of things to procrastinate. Instead of surviving off of potato chips and water, set aside time on a slow day to prepare some hearty meals. Trader Joe’s offers pre-seasoned meat and salmon along with ingredients for salads and sandwiches to keep you going throughout the study week.
Self-Care: There’s never a time for ignoring self-care, between your Quizlet flashcards and essay outlines, throw on a facemask, get a sweet treat, and drink a bottle of water.
Outdoor Pomodoro Method: The best proven study method with a twist: set a timer for 25 minutes, work on a task with zero distractions, take a five-minute break, and repeat three times. Then, when taking a thirty minute break, walk outside and smell the autumn air and move your legs — you’re probably suffering from the unpadded Leavey Library chairs already.
To Laugh
To Laugh To Live
Whether you’re romanticizing your Hogwarts Doheny study experience or taking time to watch your favorite TV show, set aside time to have fun between your exams and on the weekends.
Positive Reinforcement with TV Shows: Like a mouse with cheese (thanks AP Psych), this methodology of rewarding yourself with entertainment is extremely effective. If you reward yourself with one
episode of a show after completing a task, you’ll be kept in suspense for the next episode making you study faster to find out the answers!
To Love To Love
Love is probably the most important aspect of well-being and life as a whole. A call to a family member can be the best cure for any stress!
Love Your Loved Ones: You’re only as good as you feel! And a dependable family member or friend can offer all the motivation you need to continue to strive for your degree. A quick five minute phone call can revive you from an uninspired zombie-esque state.
Spend Time with Friends: Expanding on the last point, your friends (for the most part) are also going through the same semesterly struggle. There’s nothing like shared trauma, so take some time to study together or share a meal between study breaks.
All of these activities are easier said than done, so don’t worry if you find yourself struggling to peel away from your textbook. Progress in improving balance in your study habits isn’t linear! Put yourself first and remember it’s just one exam, so Live, Laugh, and Love!
Some kind of blurb about Staying Well? Some kind of blurb about Staying Well?
740-9355
Trojans Act Now!
Upstanders are Heroes in Real Life
DISTRACT
Approach the victim with a reason for them to leave the situation – tell them they need to take a call, or you need to speak to them; any excuse to get them away to safety.
DIRECT ACTION
Call out negative behavior, tell the person to stop or ask the victim if they are OK. Do this as a group if you can.
DEBRIEF
Wait for the situation to pass then check in with the people involved to see if they are OK. Or report it later when it’s safe to do so – it’s never too late to act.
DELEGATE
Tell someone with the authority to deal with the situation; or call for help.
Listen to what you experienced and offer possible next steps
Accompany you to a sexual assault response team (SART) center for an exam
Arrange transportation for you to and from a SART center
Arrange for aftercare services on your behalf, including but not limited to medical care services and therapist services
Arrange campus accommodation measures with offices, including arranging any academic and alternate housing accommodations
Discuss reporting options and assist you in contacting investigators in the EEO-TIX (Title IX) Office or other authorities but only at your direction
Advocates services are covered through your Student Health Fee.
T he P ower of T he r ese T
BY: TAMANNA SOOD ‘24
If you wake up scatterbrained and anxious about the day ahead, a daily “reset” ritual can help you organize and center yourself.
As a person who lives alone, sometimes holding myself accountable can be really hard. I try to keep my apartment clean and organized, but every now and then, I slip up and suddenly clothes are scattered everywhere, my sink is full of dishes, and I have an enormous pile of laundry waiting for me. Creating a daily reset routine has helped me feel less overwhelmed and keeps me organized both mentally and physically.
What is a Reset?
A reset is an intentional period of time that you allocate every day to clean your surroundings and organize your thoughts. This period of time can be dedicated to anything you’ve been putting off during the day like washing your dishes, organizing your planner, prepping ingredients for dinner, journaling, or simply cleaning up. A reset period can last as long as you want, but keep it to a consistent time block every day. I try to do a reset every night for 30 minutes before going to sleep. Seeing a clean apartment before I go to bed helps me feel more prepared and peaceful for the next day so I don’t feel behind from the moment I wake up.
A reset can take whatever shape you need it to. If every day is too much of a commitment, you can aim for twice a week or set a whole reset day where you catch up on all the week’s chores at once. Do whatever feels good for you! I try to do a reset every day, but when it doesn’t feel right, I don’t force it. Doing this helps me keep up with my habit without finding it tiresome. I also find that having a reset day once every two weeks along with my daily resets helps me set aside time to deep clean.
How do you implement a Reset?
Implementing a reset can often be the hardest part of the process, but with a good mindset and commitment, it’s honestly not too bad. Resetting requires you to hold yourself accountable. Following the S.M.A.R.T. (specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound) technique is one of the best ways to implement a reset. When you first start your reset journey, make sure to set a concrete time for it. I tend to choose times later at night when I know I will be home and won’t be uninterrupted. Then I write a list of 5 to 6 quick things to accomplish in the time block. Choose an appropriate amount of time, set a timer, and begin.
It’s been suggested that to form a habit, you must follow through on the task for three weeks. Holding yourself accountable here is definitely the most difficult part, but the joy of a reset is that the gratification is instant. It helps us realize that cleaning up and organizing isn’t as daunting as it seems and it doesn’t need to take hours. The reward of a clean space is well worth it. Some tips to build a consistent reset habit include:
Start Small: Choose tasks that are simple and manageable. It’s important that you don’t overwhelm yourself to the point of wanting to give up. Starting with a manageable amount of tasks will help you gradually increase and expand your habit over time.
Consistency is Key!: Staying consistent is the only way to keep going! Scheduling a set time every day is a good way to start your reset. I find that setting an alarm on my phone for the duration of my reset helps me stay on track!
Stay Flexible: If you miss your reset for a couple days, don’t be hard on yourself! We often lose our habits by being too hard on ourselves when we slip up. Remember that a reset is designed to serve you and help you feel less anxious. You can always pick up and start again!
Text TROJAN to 741741
I’m feeling really hopeless… I don’t know what to do.
Free, 24/ 7 support from a trained crisis responder is only a text message away.
I’m glad you reached out. I’m here, and I’m listening.
Can you tell me more about what’s going on?
I’m feeling really hopeless… I don’t know what to do.
I’m glad you reached out. I’m here, and I’m listening.
Can you tell me more about what’s going on?
Crisis Text Line (CTL) is a national non-profit texting line that provides 24/7 support for anyone in crisis; services can be used anonymously. CTL is a recognized support partner of USC Student Health, but is not a psychotherapy service. No individual patient data is collected or shared through this line.
NALOXONE SC
A Student-led Program of the American Association of Psychiatric Pharmacists (AAPP) USC School of Pharmacy Student Chapter
What Are Opioids?
Opioids are a class of drugs that include the illegal drug heroin, synthetic opioids such as fentanyl, and pain relievers available legally by prescription. Fentanyl is a powerful synthetic opioid, 8o times more potent than morphine, that has been found in illegally produced pills and powders, and has driven a steep rise in opioid overdoses nationwide. Powders and Pills can be laced with opioids.
What Is Naloxone?
Naloxone (Narcan nasal spray) is an opioid overdose reversal and lifesaving medication used for emergencies.
Where Is Naloxone Available on Campus?
Narcan is available at the following locations:
Engemann Student Health Center University Park Campus 1031 West 34th St. Los Angeles, CA 90089
Trojans Farmers Market (UPC)
Student Health Table
Eric Cohen Student Health Center Health Sciences Campus 1510 San Pablo St. Suite 104 Los Angeles, CA 90033
Contact aapp.usc@gmail.com for additional information.
sites.usc.edu/NaloxoneSC
NALOXONE
Your gender-affirming care team at USC Student Health has specialized training and experience in transgender-related health care inquiries, hormone treatment, counseling, consultations, and referrals. uscsthealth.info/GenderCare
We offer:
Medical Services, including affirming primary care, hormone therapy, HIV prevention (PrEP/PEP) and STI testing
Counseling & Mental Health Services, including supportive individual/group therapy & letters of support
Referrals & care coordination for individuals seeking gender-affirming services & surgeries
