Writing Portfolio

Best Lists and Trends

USD Student Media • 14th April 2021

A picture-perfect graduation: 5 tips and tricks for taking Senior photos

Remember those 2 a.m. walks from Copley during finals week, those early mornings spent chasing the tram, and, of course, that grueling transition to online learning? Yeah, the class of 2021 did that. And now their dedication has finally paid off.

Spoon University • 11th May 2018

Best Hot Date Eateries in San Diego (on a College Budget)

Believe it or not, people actually go on dates in college! It's definitely on the rare side, though. That’s why when you do snag a hot date, you want it to be memorable for both parties involved. But since we're broke AF college students, going to a 5-star candle-lit restaurant isn't really the move (not to mention way too much pressure).

Even if the only dates

USD Student Media • 3rd February 2021

5 good outcomes of the worst year ever: why 2020 wasn’t all bad

There’s no debate that 2020 was a unique year, to say the least. Uniquely terrible, actually. But it wasn’t all that bad. In fact, it came with plenty of silver linings — ones that will leave a positive legacy for years to come.

USD Student Media • 10th February 2021

The best Rom-Coms for Valentine’s Day

The best Rom-Coms for Valentine’s Day:

7 movies to binge when love is (or isn’t) in the air

Regardless of a person’s feelings about Valentine’s Day, it’s still the ultimate excuse to sit back with some sweets and binge classic rom-coms. In the wise words of Forrest Gump, “Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get,” (so they might as well be heart-shaped!).

Spoon University • 9th June 2019

5 Restaurants in San Diego That Are Proudly Run by Women

Making a name for yourself in the restaurant business is no piece of cake. So when these women make it seem easy, (especially in an industry traditionally dominated by men) success tastes pretty sweet.

USD Student Media • 28th October 2020

Last-minute Halloween costumes

In a crunch? Here are some Halloween costumes to throw together with closet staples.

With only a week to go until the end of October, it’s officially costume crunch time. Though Halloween will undoubtedly look different this year, there are definitely some ways to celebrate safely — and still rock a creative costume.

Arts & Culture

USD Student Media • 21st October 2020

San Diego Museum of Art adopts new technology in reopening

Like other public institutions across the county, the San Diego Museum of Art (SDMA) has established new policies to make people feel comfortable about their reopening to the public. With distance markers, temperature scans, limited capacities, and Plexiglas barriers, guests can enjoy some peace of mind when visiting these spaces.

USD Student Media • 21st April 2021

A sustainable “side hustle”

Sustainability has long been an important issue to USD students, many of whom have successfully advocated for the university to strengthen its Climate Action Plan and other green initiatives.

USD Student Media • 7th October 2020

The Art of Protesting

The role of art in confronting governmental and social issues is far from new, and the line between artist and activist is often blurred. From signs and murals to slogans and chants, creative minds have always been crucial benefactors of activist movements. Protest art is also, arguably, more dynamic than ‘regular’ art; an inextricable aspect of protest art is that it is ephemeral.

USD Student Media • 7th October 2020

Tiny but Mighty: How Ruth Bader Ginsberg became a pop-culture icon

Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsberg, the second woman to serve in the nation’s highest court, inspired generations of women with her legal success and prowess. Her kindness, humility, and sense of humor garnered her support across the aisle and facilitated her ascent to a pop-cultural phenomenon.

USD Student Media • 24th February 2021

#FreeBritney: USD students help the movement gain momentum

Two weeks ago, The New York Times released a documentary on Hulu called “Framing Britney Spears.” The film puts a new spotlight on the Free Britney Movement, through which fans and celebrities have spoken out about Britney Spears’ unjust treatment, especially pertaining to her long-standing conservatorship.

USD Student Media • 28th April 2021

Spring fever, vaccine excitement, and Zoom fatigue … Oh my!

As the chilly gloom of winter has finally given way to balmy spring days, many students find themselves in the throes of spring fever — feeling particularly restless, energetic, and even romantic. These “symptoms” of spring fever, it seems, are only exacerbated in the midst of Zoom fatigue, senioritis, and post-vaccine excitement.

USD Student Media • 14th October 2020

The real cost of being a “Boss Babe”

Are you ready to become a #BossBabe? Want to work from wifi? Do you want to buy yourself a Mercedes Benz? Then this pyramid scheme, I mean, business opportunity — is for you!

USD Student Media • 10th March 2021

How to be (lowkey) TikTok famous:

TikTok is one of the most fertile digital grounds for creativity, inspiration, and of course, memes. Users can easily find others with common interests to connect with and share content.

Fashion and Travel

28th January 2020

My Arrival in Paris (!!!)

As soon as your plane’s wheels hit the ground to study abroad in Paris, the next 24 hours are a whirlwind of sights, sounds, and smells — not to mention emotions! So many emotions. The first? Excitement as you leave the airport, spot the Eiffel Tower in the distance, and receive your Bienvenue Pack from CEA.

13th January 2020

How to Dress Like a Parisian: 3 Tips for Looking Like a Local

My roommates and I have a running joke that, after spending 15-30 minutes picking out the perfect outfit or carefully applying makeup, we “can’t believe we woke up like this.” This daily saying sprang from our collective realization that French women (and men!) seem to put in a lot of effort to look effortless.

16th March 2020

Midnight in Paris: A Guide to Dress Codes and Evening Wear

With carefully ironed cocktail dresses and high heels, my roommates and I felt no reason to second-guess the outfits we’d picked for our first night out while studying abroad in Paris. As soon as we hopped off the metro to the main nightlife street, however, we realized that we didn’t have a clue what the locals wore out. Honestly, though, we weren’t too hard on ourselves—it’s pretty confusing. Parisians have numerous unspoken dress codes, especially regarding evening wear.

Spotlights and Calls to Action

Blog: A Look Inside Chick-Fil-A From Former Executive VP | LAI

Earlier this month, Steve Robinson, former chief marketing officer and executive vice president of Chick-fil-A, launched his new book, Covert Cows and Chick-fil-A: How Faith, Cows, and Chicken Built an Iconic Brand.

In his book, Robinson reveals the inside story on how Chick-fil-A built one of the largest and most successful brands in America. He delves into the niche marketing tactics of the company, the values of the founder, and the company’s dedication to Christianity.

As a key part of the

Video Campaigns | Marketing Video Production | LAI Video

What is it like to work at your company or in your industry? What does your profession actually ? Is recruiting good candidates difficult? Are you trying to attract new generations or demographics to your line of work? Help the talent pool understand what you do and imagine themselves in that role. Talk about the company culture, personal responsibilities, and work-life balance. Video provides potential candidates more certainty as to whether or not your company, your industry, and your professi

Blog: Darren McBurnett's Unique Insights Into Navy Seal Training | LAI

Former SEAL platoon leader, accomplished keynote speaker, world-renowned photographer, and now, author, Darren McBurnett’s personal experiences and feats have taught him what separates the good from the truly exceptional.

His recently-published book, Uncommon Grit, constitutes a photographic journey through Navy SEAL BUD/S first phase training. Striking, beautiful, and haunting, Uncommon Grit takes a unique look at the toughest training in the military—and the world—from the vantage point of so

Blog: Speakers On Ethics In Technology | LAI

The realm of technology is improving and expanding at a rapid, unprecedented pace—can our ethics keep up? From data privacy breaches and biased AI to automation and public safety concerns, the benefits of technology seem to come at a steep price. But, there’s some good news—we can mitigate tech’s adverse side effects by partnering its growth with robust ethical standards.

In order to solve the ethical dilemmas recent technology has wrought, we need to be just as innovative as we have been in cr

Blog: New Book "Bitcoin Pizza" by Samantha Radocchia | LAI

Hungry for a fun, relatable guide to all things blockchain and cryptocurrency?

Look no further than Bitcoin Pizza: The No-Bullshit Guide to Blockchain—a new book by LAI speaker Samantha Radocchia. Already a #1 Amazon best-seller in E-commerce, Bitcoin Pizza offers a sociological, historical, and technical perspective on the complex issue of blockchain. Radocchia breaks it down into several palpable pieces, exploring what our current global operating system is lacking, how blockchain fixes those

USD Student Media

New club spotlight: GESP

How does a social justice club transition from raising awareness to achieving tangible change on campus? There’s no one-size-fits-all approach, but the University of San Diego’s new Gender Equality and Sex Positivity club (GESP) seems to have a solid strategy — not registering as an official club on campus.

The idea came from Lexie Rollings, a senior at USD who chaired the school’s 2019 Sexual Assault Awareness Month committee. Though she considers its execution a success, Rollings felt limit

Speaker: Jim VandeHei & Mike Allen, Political Speaking Duo | LAI

Jim VandeHei and Mike Allen are two of the nation’s most influential journalists. For years, they worked together building the nationally renowned digital media company , transforming it from a newcomer on Captiol Hill to the website and accompanying newsletter that all of Washington considered a “must-read.” Now, they are co-founders of the media company Axios, delivering quick, punchy news and insights on politics, business, media, and technology to a smart and highly-engaged audience. The com

Blog: Celebrate Diversity & Inclusion At Your Next Event | LAI

In celebration of Pride Month, we wanted to address the necessity of diversity and inclusion in the workplace—and its significance 12 months out of the year. Though most people agree on the importance of workplace diversity, it’s not always prioritized as highly as it should be. A business’s facilitation of a diverse, inclusive environment isn’t just a “nice thing to do.” In fact, it’s perhaps the most valuable, advantageous thing a company can do.

First, diversity breeds more diversity. Nobody

Blog: Beyond Charlottesville, Former VA Governor McAuliffe | LAI

In the aftermath of August 12th, 2017—the last day of the infamous “Unite the Right” rally in Charlottesville, Virginia—a crucial question echoed across the US: how do we move forward?

Former Governor of Virginia Terry McAuliffe tackles this question in his new book, Beyond Charlottesville: Taking a Stand Against White Nationalism, through thought-provoking analyses and comprehensive action-plans. He recounts the events that propelled that shocking, violent night, and discloses key details—what

Blog: The Heroes Of The 2018 Thai Cave Rescue | LAI

Our team is proud to represent three cave divers who played a key role in the 2018 Tham Luang Thailand cave rescue—Richard Stanton, John Volanthen, and Jim Warny.

Successfully locating the 12 young boys and coach trapped inside Thailand's Tham Luang cave (a feat not even special forces could carry out), the heroic divers were instrumental in the July 2018 rescue. Their dedication and expertise served as a beacon of hope throughout the tumultuous, heart-wrenching operation—and ultimately brought