As Sawyer Rabin, a sophomore majoring in popular music performance and music industry, took the stage to perform an original song, the crowd at the Spring 2025 New Student Convocation, stood quiet. 

The song “Picture” — which Rabin created to sing at his convocation in Fall 2024 — talked about change and starting a new chapter of his life. It asked attendees to take a picture so they can remember how he was before beginning a new period of his life — his time at USC. By the end of the song, the crowd became “alive,” much like Rabin’s character, and cheered loudly.

Convocation is typically held before classes begin each semester, but this semester it was delayed due to the Los Angeles wildfires.

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In his remarks, Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni recalled when he and his family evacuated their home in Pacific Palisades in January. Soni said they first grabbed legal documents, then retrieved what he called “spiritual proof of life documents,” or objects that symbolize parts of life and give “belonging.”

“Over time, you will realize that the real reason you are here is not for the legal proof of life documents, but rather for the spiritual proof of life stuff here at USC,” Soni said. “You will make meaning, make art, make music, make movies, make friends, make time, make memories and make a home. In doing so, you will experience the full range of human emotion, from tragedy to triumph.”

President Carol Folt said the response to the impact of the fires — including the Trojan Family Relief Fund which has donated over $1 million to USC community members affected by the fires — has reinforced her belief in the Trojan community.

“Something that I have seen time and time again [is] that at the times of greatest need, our lifelong and our worldwide Trojan Family answers the call,” Folt said. “Today, formally, you’ve become a part of that wonderful lifelong worldwide tradition.”

While Morgan Yuan, a freshman majoring in biochemistry, said the event was “super nice,” she said the delay impacted her ability to connect with the speeches because she had already been a student for over a month.

“I already found my group of people, which is great and all, but I think convocation would have been nice to have a little closer to the beginning of the semester so that I was able to really immerse myself into the USC community,” Yuan said.

Folt also advised students to find “very small” spaces among USC’s stadiums, lecture halls and libraries to feel at home. Folt said the lab was her homelike space during her time as an undergraduate and graduate student studying biology at UC Santa Barbara and said that space allowed her to have “deep reflection.”

“The things that really affect you as a person, they actually begin in the smaller places, and in moments of silent reflection,” Folt said. “You have to also remember that this is just the starting point, because, as famed French scientist Louis Pasteur once said, ‘Everything gets complicated away from the laboratory.’”

After the ceremony, Folt stood alongside a line for free pizza and interacted with students, including Yuan. Yuan said Folt told her about her experience as a transfer student at UCSB, which made Yuan realize she would be able to find community at USC as a spring admit.

Joseph Seong, a freshman majoring in history, said attending convocation made him feel like an official Trojan.

“I feel like it really legitimizes my experience here,” Seong said. “I know I’m already a student, but it’s more prestigious.”

Attendees also heard speeches from Undergraduate Student Government president Brianna Sánchez and Graduate Student Government president Shahd Bawarith. Sánchez said when she attended her own convocation, she never thought she would be president. She struggled with public speaking then, but said her time at USC has “transformed” her.

“USC has challenged me to push beyond my limits, to exceed what I believed was possible, to dream bigger and to welcome the opportunities that come my way,” Sánchez said. “This is what sets USC apart, [students] receive not just a first-class education, but true guidance and support.”

Bawarith, who began her time at USC in Spring 2021, said she knows spring admits may feel like they “have to constantly play catch-up,” but she told them everyone else in the room was going through the same thing.

“No matter what the reasoning is behind [joining USC in the spring], your own journey to USC is a testament to your resilience and your dedication to education,” Bawarith said. “You’ve taken the path less traveled and challenged yourself to pursue a degree here, and let me tell you, it’s worth it.”