“All the world’s a stage” — so what’s hidden behind it? 

Whether it’s a “game,” “simulation” or a “stage” as Shakespeare put it, life admittedly has its layers, and being a student at USC is no exception. 

Coming to the University was an exercise in staying upright while juggling the many attractions that pulled my attention left and right; I wanted to join X club but was busy with Y. I always passed events advertising Z but never had the time to explore. There’s no stopping, and no smelling of roses — but what if there could be?

Life can move at an unrelenting pace, and it’s up to us to push on the brakes. I will be the first to say that the chaos of the day-to-day — juggling jobs, internships, clubs, classes and the needed reprieve at social functions — can be all-consuming and narrow the lens of our world, reduced to what’s next on the to-do list. 

But there’s so much more to see if we take the time to look — whether it’s the efforts of a student film’s behind-the-scenes production team, or the dining hall chefs and staff who tirelessly work to keep us fed, or the many small businesses on and around campus — learning about these inner workings opens our eyes to all that goes unnoticed, not only enriching our outlooks on life but helping us settle in our gratitude.

And so I implore you to dig a little deeper. Take a break from the juggling act to placate your curiosity, let the mundane take new focus and learn something new. 

Ruby Crosthwait

Fall 2024 Features Editor