AYOOOO TROYPHI!!! Believe it or not, this semester is coming to a close. While it has felt like time has slowed and sped up at the same time, there is much to look back on with contentment and pride. We have almost crossed the finish line of one of the craziest semesters both in and out of Troy Phi.
From working hard to participate in the 39th Friendship Games, to our many TP Goes events, to Pilipinx American History Month (PAHM) programming/PACF, to GMs and tailgates, to Joili-Bee Office Hours—these are just a fraction of what Troy Phi has accomplished this semester alone. There have been so many opportunities for our Filipino community to grow closer at USC and connect with the greater Los Angeles community, and I think it’s safe to say that we have accomplished so much in that respect alone.
While these are only some examples of what has happened in Troy Phi, we must also realize the other responsibilities we bear: as students, as family members, and as friends. Balancing so much in an unpredictable environment like college requires much more than we usually present to others. Finding time to weave personal responsibilities in the academic stress we undergo is taxing; and to have been through it all with so much change is something that shouldn’t go unnoticed.
Before you keep studying for finals and finish your projects, take a little bit of time to look back and truly understand how much you have overcome and succeeded in all parts of your life, and how those small wins accumulate to the overall growth of your own being. Look back at your camera roll, your calendar, or other tangible ways that prove that your time in Troy Phi and USC has allowed you to grow.
It is also totally okay and normal to be unsatisfied with your performance or the turn of events this semester. Following the theme of change and growth, it was never meant to be easy, but it is still a way forward. Give yourself credit where credit is due and know that you are meant to be here—in Troy Phi, at USC, at college—just like everyone else.
To hone in on this skill of self-reflection and self-care, take time during winter break and revisit old hobbies, skills, and pastimes. Give yourself time to doomscroll, rot in bed, and exist without the expectation to perform. While it is important to always look forward, it is arguably more important to look at a mirror and embrace every part of what you see in all forms: physically, mentally, emotionally, spiritually.
By recentering positive energy into your own being, you’ll find that the things you look forward to are also amplified in this positive energy. Giving yourself the space to truly enjoy and appreciate what you have/have experienced also allows space for new experiences, projects, and emotions to develop.
Speaking of things to look forward to, there are many events in Troy Phi that you should be excited for! As we kickoff our 50th anniversary in 2025, we will be holding various programming to commemorate this occasion. Some shameless plugs:
Alumni Dinner will be on January 17, 2025! This is an opportunity for you to connect with TP alumni and ask for professional advice and get a glimpse of the breadth and strength of our network.
If you know any TP alumni who would benefit from personally connecting with us, or if you have any other ideas you would like to see, feel free to reach out to me at usctpdevelopment@gmail.com. And direct any TP alumni you know to our instagram @troyphialumni!
Joili-bee Office Hours will continue biweekly next semester! Keep an eye out on our Instagram @usctroyphi for more information in the coming weeks.
Soooo much more exciting events that are non-Development related are also underway! PACN, retreat, GMs, TP Goes… the list goes on.
All that being said, take some time to relish in the past, and use those feelings to propel you to success in the future, and feel even more greatly the wins you will achieve. So proud of you all for accomplishing a challenging yet rewarding semester, and if you ever need me for professional advice, personal guidance, or anything else I can provide, I am just one text or email away! Wishing you all a luh calm winter break, and see you all next year.
Sigma out,
Josh Placido
—
Hey Troyphi! After reading Josh’s Dev Corner, I feel like he covered everything in terms of big events in Troyphi to closing out the semester so I’ll keep my section short and sweet. To begin, I have to agree that closing out this semester has not been easy for any of us and I am sure many of us are beginning to feel burnt out right about now (I definitely do). We’ve all been juggling a lot of different things, whether that be classes, events, or even personal responsibilities. Finding a balance that is sustainable in all of this chaos is really hard to do and it's not something that should be overlooked. A lot of the time, we downplay our achievements and I think it’s so important to recognize how much effort you’ve all been putting in—so make sure you give yourself some credit! You deserve to treat yourself for all the hard work you’ve done this semester.
As finals approach and things get even more hectic, I want to remind you to give yourself some grace. It’s easy to be hard on ourselves when we feel overwhelmed, but every step you take towards your goals is part of your growth, and that’s something worth celebrating. As we head into winter break, I hope you all take this time to rest and reflect on everything you’ve accomplished in and outside of school, even if it didn’t go exactly as planned. Use this break to reconnect with yourself, recharge, and get ready for all the exciting things we have coming next semester! I’m soooo proud of how far we’ve come as a community, and I’m excited for all the events next semester!
See you next year!
- Cherise Ilagan :)
Comments