Andy Hsu is reflecting on his time at USC Iovine and Young Academy and how the experience has altered his worldview for the better. “It sparked a series of changes, self-transformation, and opportunities that got me to where I am today,” the senior says of his college career. 

From an “aha moment” discovering IYA to internships at Amazon and Roblox, Hsu is ready for a post-grad chapter that extends his continued journey of self-discovery. Even though he’s gearing up to thrive at work, he recognizes the value in slowing down and appreciating the intricacies of nature and form. Have you ever stopped to admire the curves and shape of your computer? Hsu has. He’s here to remind us that life lessons can develop from taking time to understanding everyday things.

Tell us a little bit about your journey to the Academy.

I came across USC’s brochure when I was researching what colleges to apply to. The Arts, Technology and the Business of Innovation major caught my attention and I went down a rabbit hole on the IYA website. The curriculum, student stories, and home page video promised an unconventional, interdisciplinary education that bridges different fields. I immediately felt like that’s where I belong because I won’t have to limit myself to one single field of study. It was an aha moment and IYA became my dream school. I was so fired up after that day!

What piece of advice have you implemented in your day-to-day life?

Meditate! Practicing meditation since freshman year of college has allowed me to stay calm and take a step back whenever things get stressful. It's helped me notice my emotions and understand myself better. I've also learned to practice self-compassion and treat myself like how I would treat a friend while pursuing career goals.

Do you have a role model? Why do you look up to them?

Derek Sivers is a really interesting thinker. He’s had a range of unique experiences as a musician, entrepreneur, author, circus performer…etc. He’s one of my top 3 favorite authors of all time. He writes in a simple but thought-provoking way. He challenges a lot of conventional beliefs and represents a way to live a life driven by curiosity and exploration. I was lucky to meet up with him in New Zealand last year! People say you shouldn’t meet your hero because they’d disappoint, but  didn’t at all!

Internally, my grandpa is a big inspiration of mine. He went from being a rural farmer to starting his own successful business in the city. His relentless hustle and hard work empowered my dad and my generation to have access to a great education. His moral values, upbringing, and humility ground me and inspire me to live life intentionally and pursue meaningful things!

Describe one thing most people don’t know about you.

When I was preparing my application materials for IYA, I cold-DM’d every single IYA student I could find on Instagram. Most of them didn’t reply, but the ones who did gave me really insightful advice!

What is the biggest risk you have taken, and was the result what you wished for?

Taking a gap year during COVID. To others, this might seem like a risk, but to me it was a logical thing to do. I was back home in Taiwan where there were no COVID cases. Being in Zoom classes for a few weeks made me realize I was better off learning in real-life environments, and this might be what my IYA education has prepared me for  – charting my own course. It turned out to be life-changing. I had so much personal and professional growth within that year – explored the project manager career path, took classes at a local university, built a community away from USC, tried coaching and therapy, reconnected with my roots, and completed my mandatory military service. I came back fulfilled and matured.

What would you say is your defining achievement thus far?

My first reaction to this question was, “I don’t want to be defined by my achievements, big or small.” I’m still on a journey of self-discovery, so I don’t really want to put myself in any box. If I am to say, probably getting into IYA? It's sparked a series of changes, self-transformation, and opportunities that got me to where I am today.

The word "achievement" is like "success” – its meaning varies for people with different values. It's easy to get caught up in external standards or scripts that measure success in the environments we are in. Knowing this is easy, but unsubscribing from the metric of success we are used to is hard. The journey of figuring ourselves out requires us to zoom out and look at things critically.

Things take time. Yes, there are a lot of things you want to try, but take it one step at a time. Most people overestimate how much they can do in a year and underestimate how much they can do in 10 years. Learning can go beyond the college environment. Know that everyone has unique circumstances and you are on your own schedule. You might feel behind in certain areas of life, but as long as you stay in the game, you will catch up!

How have you evolved over the past four years?

Developing a better understanding of myself, having confidence in making things happen, and feeling at peace with who I am.

Settling into NYC, building a community, and thriving at work!

Everything, literally. It’s easy to overlook everything around us — passing by a building, flipping through a magazine, or gobbling down some food. If we slow down, we can actually explore a lot of intricacies in nature and interesting things about our culture. Why is this building designed this way? What’s the story behind the magazine? What is the nuanced taste of the food? Just look at the laptop you are using right now, do you ever take a step back and study the curves, texture, and shape of the computer?

What do you like to watch, read, or do in your free time?

I enjoy having the time and space to read, write, and learn things I'm curious about at the time. I used to read a lot of fiction when I was younger but now I mostly read nonfiction. I've also found a lot of joy in getting to know people, traveling to places, and learning about art and culture. 

GSEM120 Mindfulness in Cultural Practices: a practical and interesting class exploring how different cultures and religions approach mindfulness. It taught me different types of meditation and really got me started on my mindfulness journey!

No specific place, but generally the national parks and the restaurants!

Senior Spotlight: Andy Hsu