When she moved into Preston College residence hall as a freshman this semester, Maleah Anderson probably felt more at home than any other freshman on campus.
That’s because Anderson had already lived in USC’s only residential college for six years — from age 10 to 16 — while her mother, French professor (and now vice provost for undergraduate studies) Lara Lomicka Anderson, was faculty principal there. The Anderson family stayed in Preston’s faculty lodge, and Maleah and her younger sister got a first-hand look at the college experience.
“Telling my friends at school where I lived and having them come over was interesting because it was like, 'By the way, I live on a college campus, and our back door is a long hallway where a bunch of college students live,' ” says Anderson, who now stays on Preston’s second floor, directly above the room she occupied until two years ago.
“My sister and I would ride our Razor scooters down the hallways, and we had carpet slide shoes. We had our fun, but it was just not your typical experience to be living in a dorm room as a 10-year-old.”
Because she spent her formative years at USC, attending campus events and befriending students who lived in Preston College, it would be logical but incorrect to assume that Anderson automatically chose Carolina for her undergraduate studies.
“Telling my friends at school where I lived and having them come over was interesting because it was like, 'By the way, I live on a college campus, and our back door is a long hallway where a bunch of college students live.' ”
“I did not think I was going to go to USC for the longest time. I knew that I liked the campus, but I kind of had my heart set on going to a smaller school,” says Anderson, who had mostly applied to small, private Christian colleges. “My top choice for a long time was Erskine College — my dad works there — but I told myself I would consider USC if I got into the Honors College.
“I ended up doing a tour of Erskine and USC, sitting in on classes at both. The class that I sat in on at USC was a marketing Honors class, and I loved it. So that's kind of when I made my decision.”
Now ensconced in her old stomping grounds in Preston with a roommate she likes a lot, Anderson seems quite happy with her choice. In fact, she’s already begun plotting to make the living arrangement more permanent.
“I hope to be able to stay in Preston all four years,” she says. “I joke with my friends that I’m the Preston Princess, and it’s kind of hard to kick out the Preston Princess, but we’ll see.”