Name: Victoria MorganClass: Senior
Sport: Women's Golf
Major: East Asian Studies (already received Bachelor's degree from USC in Philosophy, Politics and Law)
GPA: 3.77
AK: What are some of the most interesting things you learned as a Philosophy, Politics and Law major?
VM: I'm acting as a research assistant now for the same professor that mentored me when I published a paper a couple years ago in the USC Journal of Law and Society. In that paper I was able to research how international law deals with the concept of torture and how the CIA has tried to interpret international law ... I didn't know anything about international law going into college, and now that's one of the things I hope to focus on for the rest of my life. That and human rights.
AK: Do you plan to go to law school after graduating? What are your career goals?
VM: It's a little bit complicated. I hope to play professional golf for about five years and see what I can do out there, get on the LPGA and hopefully have a good career. But I'm more of an academic person; I definitely put the student part first in "student-athlete." So long term, I want to go to a top-notch law school. I'm hoping to go to Stanford --- as much as I want us to always beat them in football, I was just playing up there and got to meet Condoleezza Rice, who's a professor over there, and I love the academic rigor that their law school presents. Then after that, I'm interested in human rights. I'll maybe try to get into politics and see what I can do there. I'm not too sure after that.
AK: Is there any cause in particular that you're passionate about right now?
VM: Something that I've been studying recently is how best to deal with the power that the U.S. has. You obviously don't want to try to force other nations using military might to use the policies that you think are best, but at the same time you want to use the privileges that you have to aid others around the world. So there's a very delicate balance of forcing democracy on people versus helping. Nobody has all the answers, but I hope to pursue that further. A big goal would be to work for the United Nations --- that would be a dream come true.
AK: What was your conversation like with Condoleezza Rice?
VM: The most interesting thing she said was that she was studying to be a concert pianist when she was growing up, and she got to that level, but she decided that she was never going to be the absolute best in that, so she transitioned to something that was her true passion, which was politics. I think for all athletes, there comes a time when you don't want to play anymore or you're too old to play, and you have to transition to something else. So that showed me that you can be the best in two totally different worlds. That's what I hope to be: I hope to get to the very top at golf --- collegiate golf and then professional golf --- and then I hope to get to the very top in my academic aspirations as well.
AK: When you did get the opportunity to pursue a second degree here, why did you choose East Asian Studies?
VM: I took a semester of Korean language and most of my teammates are Korean. And women's golf is extremely popular in Asia, particularly in South Korea. So I've bumped into the East Asian culture over and over again and I've begun to love it over the years. My teammates are like sisters to me, so I wanted to pursue it further in a more academic setting. This semester I'm specifically focusing on China and Chinese politics.
AK: You've traveled to every continent, right? What are some of your favorite countries you've visited?
VM: My favorite place I've ever traveled was El Salvador. I got to go for the inauguration of President Funes in 2009 ... That was really a day of hope for the country. Everybody came out --- you see our elections get about 50 percent of people that come out and vote --- this was such a major part of their culture. Not only did so many people vote, but everybody was on the streets celebrating and partying. The hope that was in the air was palpable and unbelievable --- something I've never seen before in the U.S. So in terms of my academic interests, that was my favorite visit. South Africa was another favorite. I think South Africa might be, as far as the geography, the most beautiful country I've ever been to. It's pretty breathtaking. As far as somewhere I'd want to live if not in the U.S.: Sydney, Australia.
AK: Have your travels helped you in your classes?
VM: I think my edge for school is because I'm so interested in school ... not only am I a nerd, but I have a background in a lot of the things I'm studying. So when they bring up what may seem like an abstract theory or international relations concept, I can apply it to somewhere I've been, and it immediately becomes that much more interesting to me ... I think school, as with sports, if you have an unbelievable passion for it, you're bound to excel in it, even if you have a lot of other things going on.
AK: What was the award that you earned from Order of Troy and what did it mean to you?
VM: I did not expect to get the Order of Troy award. They give it to about 100 people in each graduating class, and it's for exemplary leadership, community service and academic excellence. I didn't know about it because the faculty votes on it. The nice thing about the major that I had was that the classes were relatively small and I got to know my professors. The professors here are so willing to mentor you if you show interest in their class ... The Order of Troy award meant a great deal and my parents were definitely excited and proud, which means the world to me.
