Meet the Directors!
Introductions:
Jessie: Hihi! My name is Jessie, and I’m a senior studying communication! I started my ISA journey as an intern in my junior year, and I’m now the assistant director of ISA.
Claire: Hi everyone! My name is Claire and I am a junior pursuing dual degrees in Business Administration and Cognitive Science. I’ve been in ISA for three years: started as an intern my freshman year, was Chair of Internal Operations my sophomore year, and am now the Co-Executive Director!
Shashwat: Hi! My name is Shashwat and I’m a senior double majoring in Philosophy, Politics, and Economics and International Relations and the Global Economy. This is my second year in ISA: I started on e-board as the Chair of University Affairs last year and am currently a Co-Executive Director!
Why did you join ISA?
Jessie: Transferring to USC as a junior was a struggle for me because it was a new environment, and I felt disheartened because I had to start over again, make new friends, and try to find a community. But joining ISA made the transition much easier, and I found my closest friends here!
Claire: I’ve always identified as an international student––being born in Taiwan, and attending an international school in Hong Kong before coming to USC, I’m constantly surrounded by people of all walks of life. Upon coming to USC, I felt like joining ISA was a great way for me to make friends who shared similar backgrounds and experiences growing up aboard! I also was looking for mentorship and advice from upperclassmen who knows what it’s like coming to the US for the first time.
Shashwat: After a couple of years at USC (only one on campus because my freshman year was entirely online due to COVID), I knew I wanted to make an impact on campus and participate in the community more, but most of the clubs I was in at the time didn’t offer as much opportunity for that as I wanted. I entered USC as an international student and received my Green Card during my freshman year, so I was somewhat aware of the issues international students face when entering college in terms of logistics and administrative issues. One of my friends was in ISA and recommended I apply, and it ended up being a great way for me to find a community at USC as well as make a tangible impact to support students on campus!
What did you like the most about ISA?
Jessie: I enjoyed my intern experience because the bi-weekly meetings allowed me to bond with other interns, and compared to other clubs, I liked how ISA had a lot of structure. For example, shadowing other E-Board members allowed me to learn more about a position. I also enjoyed Coffee Meets Donuts, which encouraged people to meet and get to know other members of ISA. I also love the events we host, such as Travel with ISA to Universal Studios and Globefest, where various food trucks on campus serve free food! Overall, I thought it was a well-organized club that values community building, which was what I was looking for as a new student. Overall
Claire: As cliche as it sounds, the people in ISA are what makes us a great organization. I’ve made some of my best friends through ISA, from weekly Monday meetings to hanging out in the USG office, gym sessions to Coffee Meets Donut dates, ISA really encouraged me to step out of my comfort zone and meet new people.
Shashwat: The people in ISA and community feel of the club are definitely big reasons why I enjoy being in ISA, but I also think that the dual nature of the club (being both a social club as well as having a responsibility to support international students in various capacities on campus) is what makes it truly special. Seeing the level of care ISA members have for international student issues and having the capacity, through our status as an Undergraduate Student Government Programming Assembly, to advocate for change via USC’s administration and talking to other campus groups, is a really rewarding experience for me.
Why did you apply for director?
Jessie: Since I enjoyed my intern experience so much, I applied for Assistant Director even though I knew there would be more responsibilities. I wanted to give interns/e-boards the same experience and make their time at ISA just as special and fun. I also wanted to develop my skills in leadership, planning events, and collaboration in a work environment.
Claire: It was definitely a step that I wanted to take, as I wanted to gain more leadership experience and wanted to leave a lasting impact on ISA. I also wanted to ensure that I am able to help future ISA Interns and Eboarders have just as much fun and enjoy ISA as much as I have. Being Co-Executive Director, though difficult and stressful at times, has been nothing short of rewarding. To be able to make a tangible difference in international students’ lives has been something that empowers me to continue making ISA better!
Shashwat: I really enjoyed my time in USG and in ISA’s advocacy department and thought that it would be cool to help shape the direction of the club in the future. Also, I definitely wanted to stay connected to people in ISA and continue to help international students on campus as much as I could so applying for director was a good way to stay in the club and broaden my impact. It’s also helped me learn a lot of new skills and how to work with a broad range of people.
Why should others join ISA?
Jessie: I’m so grateful for all the experience and memories that ISA has given me, and everyone else in the organization can agree that applying to ISA has been one of the best decisions they made at USC! So don’t hesitate to apply because everyone is welcome, and you don’t have to identify as an international student to be a part of ISA!
Claire: ISA is an amazing community that allows you to make new friends and learn more about how you can get involved with the Undergraduate Student Government! Depending on your own interests, you can learn about how to put on an event for over two hundred students, learn how to manage and track expenses with spreadsheets, or help with advocating for international students’ voices on campus!
Shashwat: I think the best reason to join ISA is its community, especially for underclassmen and others who might be new to the USC environment and looking to make a difference and meet people who share your goals and values. That being said, it’s a great way to learn a lot of different skills and make friends in a safe, lower-pressure environment. I can’t think of any regrets I have about joining ISA.