marissa’s journey from LMA to USC

1. How do you balance extracurricular activities with your academic responsibilities, and do you have any time management strategies? 

One of my most significant extracurricular activities is ASB, which has helped me build my leadership and communication skills. I try to focus on the work for my department during the zero period so I have time to finish my schoolwork throughout the rest of the day. I'm also working on utilizing my point break time to accomplish more work.

 2. What advice do you have for college applications, including essays and interviews? 

1. Write something you are passionate about. It sounds cheesy, but writing about a topic you love is much easier. I initially found myself writing a list of things I had done in high school as an essay; there was no story to it. I decided to pivot, so I wrote about how much I loved to talk, which I'm passionate about. 2. Do not procrastinate. I procrastinated, which added stress to the whole process and could have been an easy fix if I had started sooner. A great tip is to brainstorm in the summer and start looking at the questions your top colleges are asking. 3. Be bold and pivot. As I said before, I didn't like my original essay but was terrified of starting over completely. That was the best I could have done for my writing process. My new essay is about who I was and fits my writing style better. Pivoting is 100% ok. 

3. In hindsight, is there anything you wish you had known or done differently during high school to enhance your academic experience? 

Don't be intimidated by students from other schools, and try to create connections with students from everywhere. Coming from a small school like Legacy, it seems daunting sometimes when talking to other students, but I have found that making connections with students outside of my school has broadened my perspective, taught me more about topics I'm passionate about, and is overall fun to get to know more people!

4. What extracurricular activities or clubs have been most rewarding for you during high school, and why? 

Legacy’s Virtual Enterprise class (VE) has been the most rewarding activity throughout my high school experience. As a more business-minded and talkative person, VE has taught me much and allowed me to play toward my strengths. Seeing your company grow from the ground up is rewarding, especially considering our successful competition! Not only this, but VE has opened so many doors for me, from landing internships to speaking opportunities and other resources for my future career goals. Simply mentioning VE in an interview is unique and impressive to employers.

5. ⁠Do you have any advice for upcoming seniors, other high schoolers, and first-year students?

My advice is not to be afraid to join clubs, classes, or out-of-school activities you think you'll enjoy, just as you believe it’s “too late” to put on college apps. It’s important to remember that activities aren't just for college apps but to create personal growth in areas that inspire you!