To the right of the fountain, by the drop-off loop, there's a bush that blooms hot pink in the springtime. 

When I visited campus in high school, I left picturing those flowers, feeling alive after a day of exploring in the spring sunlight. 

That feeling is what I always think of when I picture myself at USC. It's one of walking along the Horseshoe with your face turned up to catch the sunlight, of lounging by the library, listening to the fountain and picking at pink petals, of taking time to admire the colors that bloom along with spring. It's the feeling of new life. 

My day-to-day life isn't quite that picturesque — I often find myself rushing to get where I need to go, being annoyed at how the heat makes me sweat on the way to class, forgetting to notice all the things that make life a little more enjoyable. 

It's easy to get caught up by your to-do list or by the demands of your Google Calendar, but take some time to notice what's around you. From flowers, animals and art on campus to baseball games, new transfer students and spring cleaning, there are a lot of reasons to embrace the spring in full bloom. 

I'm going to make an effort to spend a few minutes each day admiring the nature and the culture around me. I hope you do, too. 

Here's a little help to get you started.