Lina Goggins-Rendón
Assistant Director
B.A. Theatre, Screenwriting (minor)
University of Southern California
Bio:
Los Angeles is the city of my dreams, but I will always be fond of my hometown: Berkeley, California! Growing up there, in a multi-cultural community surrounded by nature, helped me garner a passion for social justice and sustainability. My love for the stage catapulted me into fantastic opportunities to work on teams with like-minded artists and, of course, sing my heart out.
In my four years at USC, I was a work study student at the Natural History Museum in the Community Science Program. This opportunity opened the doors for me to further explore efforts in community outreach and showed me the joys of observing urban nature and animal behavior. At USC, I was able to create an inter-disciplinary journey for myself, both inside and outside of my major.
Why USC?
In high school, I was a big fish in a small pond. At USC, a significantly bigger pond, I took advantage of as many opportunities I could to meet new people. Right away, I joined a club called MixedSC, a community for multi-racial and multi-cultural students like myself. Although many of us had completely different backgrounds, as well as majors, we discovered so many commonalities, especially when discussing the nuances of ethnicity and the power of staying connected to one’s culture and roots.
As my community blossomed and my friendships strengthened, I started to see people I knew everywhere I went on campus! Every semester on the first day of classes, I would scan the lecture hall to see if there was anyone I knew. One time, I recognized a girl from my major who I first met at freshman convocation. I hadn’t seen her in over a year, but I invited her to sit next to me and the rest is history: she is now one of my best friends.
Admission Advice:
An open essay prompt can sometimes be daunting. Think of it as an opportunity! You are free to write about whatever you wish. You are the person who knows yourself and your story the best, so don’t sweat it. Everyone has their own voice and a unique writing style. Show off your personality and share something with us that is essential to who you are, and maybe isn’t highlighted in the rest of your application.
Movie: Book Smart directed by Olivia Wilde
Food: Sushi!
Musical Performer: Billie Eilish
Quote: “I never look back, darling. It distracts from the now.” — Edna Mode (The Incredibles)