Although they have yet to attend their first class, new Trojans got a quick introduction to USC pageantry on Thursday morning, wearing academic robes as they entered Alumni Memorial Park for fall convocation — the official welcome for new students.
Academic leaders from the university’s 23 schools joined USC President Beong-Soo Kim for the event, which drew more than 12,000 people to the University Park Campus. Speakers shared words of encouragement, inspiration and advice with the students beginning the next chapter of their academic journey.
“It’s a bit of a cliché to tell an incoming class that it is the most remarkable class in USC’s history,” Kim said during his opening remarks at the event. “But sometimes it’s true, right?”
Kim pointed out that 1,200 of the new students had a perfect grade point average in high school, and that 40% of those who took the SAT or ACT test scored in the 99th percentile — many with perfect scores.
He also shared that among the newest Trojans is the recipient of India’s highest young civilian honor for work on mental health and anti-bullying initiatives, and a first-year student who is the youngest American woman to summit Mount Everest — breaking the record previously held by 2026 USC graduate Lucy Westlake.
“Others here this morning may not have climbed Mount Everest, but you’ve scaled other mountains to get here,” said Kim, who also called out those who are the first members of their family to attend college, left their home state for the first time, or crossed oceans to come to the United States and attend USC.
Asking questions takes courage
Kim focused his remarks on the importance of inquiry during a time when answers are easier to get than ever.
“Something I hope you’ll discover at USC is that even more important than getting the right answers is asking the right questions,” he said. “Raising your hand when you know the answer to a question takes some courage. But asking a challenging question when you don’t know the answer? That takes more courage.”
Kim told students that not asking those questions will shortchange their opportunities to keep learning and deprive someone else of the opportunity to think twice and do something differently or better.
“Creating an environment where everyone feels encouraged to ask and listen to questions isn’t just good for us as individuals,” he said. “It’s actually a collective responsibility that we all share to continuously renew that spirit of inquiry that marks great universities like USC. That’s how we advance our academic research, learning and excellence.”
Trojan alumnus shares unexpected journey
The event’s alumni speaker, 2017 USC Price School of Public Policy graduate Edwin Saucedo, remembered how he felt 13 years ago as a freshman sitting at convocation.
“I thought, ‘I’m not good enough to be here,’” Saucedo said. “I grew up eight miles from this campus, and I still wasn’t sure I was allowed to be on it.”
He arrived with a 10-year plan that involved studying abroad in France, going to law school and building a career in politics.
“Life had other ideas,” he said. “My first semester was hard. … I went home for Thanksgiving, sat outside [on] my mom’s driveway and had a breakdown.”
He had failed a midterm and gotten his first C, in French.
“At the time, it felt like my world was crumbling,” he said. “It wasn’t. I asked for help. I made some changes. And I kept going.”
He went on to become president of USC’s Undergraduate Student Government and worked hard to address the challenges faced by other first-generation students.
Instead of France, he studied in Japan, interned in Taiwan, volunteered in India and, after USC, studied in China. His career eventually took him to the California attorney general’s office, where he served as chief of staff.
“During your time at USC, something is not going to go according to plan — and I hope it doesn’t,” Saucedo said. “Take the class you have no business taking. Ask for help earlier than I did. And if, somewhere along the way, you start wondering whether you belong here, remember: You do.”
A sacred space for storytellers
In his invocation, USC Dean of Religious Life Varun Soni described the campus as “hallowed ground for poets and playwrights, novelists and journalists, dancers and musicians, and screenwriters and filmmakers.”
“Indeed, this is a sacred space for storytellers,” Soni said. “And for those of us who are not storytellers by training or by aspiration, we are still the authors of our own life story.”
He reminded the students that among the famous Trojan storytellers is Star Wars creator George Lucas, and that next month, the Lucas Museum of Narrative Art opens in nearby Exposition Park.
“Just like George Lucas, you too will write the next chapter of your life story right here on campus,” Soni said.
Fellow Trojans share talents, words of wisdom
Undergraduate Student Government President Syrabi Nur Rahman, a senior at the USC Gould School of Law, let her fellow students know that they are now Trojans for life and they now “have a network that runs so deep that no matter where you go, you know a fellow Trojan will be out there ready to support you.”
Graduate Student Government President Janielle Cuala advised the new Trojans to find their people, be kind to themselves and to pursue excellence — not perfection.
“You are here to ask questions, make mistakes and grow,” said Cuala, who is working toward her doctorate in medical biophysics at the Keck School of Medicine of USC. “Try to remind yourself throughout this journey: You are capable. You belong here. And you are not alone.”
Senior Sofia Gomez of the USC Thornton School of Music performed her original song “Little Me,” which she wrote during her sophomore year at the university.
Students and parents inspired
As the convocation ceremony began, freshman Pia Tapia Gallegos of the USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences said she was quickly reminded why she chose to come to USC over the several other top schools she had been accepted into.
“Wearing robes and everything, it felt unreal,” she said as she gathered with her family in front of Bovard Administration Building after the ceremony. “I have always dreamed of college, but you just don’t imagine that it’s going to start this way in this beautiful place.”
Gallegos was among the students who were especially affected by the remarks of alumni speaker Saucedo.
“Even though he didn’t do what he was planning to, USC gave him all the experiences and positives to be able to do more than he ever thought that he could,” she said. “That hit me hard.”
The parents of USC Dornsife sophomore Madon Romanosky were also deeply moved by what was said during the ceremony.
“The storytelling really got me,” said Mike Romanosky of Philadelphia. “It was all about how you’re going to persevere. There’s going to be struggles, but in the end, you’re going to come out on the other side very successful.”
Madon Romanosky’s mom, Kathleen Richards, said through tears: “I was just really taken by the formality of it, the beauty of it, and the great stories. A beautiful day.”
Sophomore Rhys Ecker of the USC School of Dramatic Arts described the morning as “a special moment when we can all see each other and see how far we’ve come.”
“I especially appreciated being advised by one of the speakers to recognize that you have people nearby you that can help you,” Ecker said. “You’re not alone in this.”
