Student Perspectives: USC Athletics

Hi! I’m Laila Gilder from the Class of 2026. I’m a Communications major. When I first arrived at USC, I wasn’t exactly sure how I’d find my place within the Trojan athletic culture. I wasn’t recruited or on a scholarship, but I already had a personal connection to USC Athletics: my older brother. He transferred to USC in 2021 to play football, and my family and I came out to watch him play that fall. Those visits were my first real glimpse into the energy of USC sports—packed stands, the Spirit of Troy playing and the sense that everyone was part of something bigger. It made me excited to one day be a Trojan myself.

Once I got to campus, I knew I wanted to be involved in some way—and my first step was behind the scenes. I started working at the Galen Center as a camera operator for the jumbotron. It was way more fun than I expected. I'd scan the crowd looking for fans who were dancing their hearts out, little kids being absolutely adorable and those shy fans who would do anything to avoid being on the big screen (which honestly made it even more tempting to zoom in on them). Getting to highlight those moments gave me a new appreciation for the way USC rallies around its teams. I also loved being part of the action for sports beyond football—like men’s and women’s basketball and volleyball—and I even got to meet some really cool people along the way—including Jason Sudeikis, Candace Parker, and Jesse Williams. It was a job, but it never really felt like one.

After spending time behind the camera, I decided it was time to jump into the game myself. So, I signed up for intramural basketball. Spoiler alert: we lost every game in the regular season. But because there weren’t that many teams in our league, we somehow still made the playoffs. Then, in a twist of fate, the team we were supposed to face in the semifinals forfeited. And, just like that, we were in the championship. We had already lost twice to the team we were up against, but that night, something clicked. We played our hearts out, pulled off the upset and walked away as IM champions. We got the coveted championship T-shirts and took a big group photo—sweaty, shocked and seriously proud.

Looking back, my USC Athletics journey didn’t follow a traditional path—but that’s what makes it so meaningful to me. From cheering on my brother in the Coliseum to capturing unforgettable moments at Galen to winning a championship of my own, I’ve been able to connect with the Trojan spirit in more ways than I ever imagined. With 23 Division I sports teams and over 50 intramural leagues that bring together more than 1,800 students, USC offers so many ways to be part of the athletic community. Being a Trojan isn’t about stats or scholarships. It’s about showing up, getting involved and creating your own story along the way.