Penn's Campus in the Summer

I spent this past summer on campus doing research and I initially wasn't sure how it would be different from my experiences during the school year. After being so used to the hustle and bustle of Locust walk between classes, I thought I might become bored with the lack of activity. I was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed the experience.

During the summer, it's no secret that Philadelphia is hot. However, I was happy with the fact that there were few rainy days, and most mornings when I woke up and walked down Hamilton walk to the hospital complex it was bright and sunny. The usual restaurants are all open but less busy, and people seem to be in less of a hurry. Walking down locust was very relaxing for me. For the first time since I originally came to Penn, I stopped to look up and admire the foliage that overhangs across the path. It's not completely empty; there are students and tour groups still present on campus, but it's a completely different vibe than that of during the school year.

The other aspect I loved from the summer is exploring. It's a lot of fun getting off campus during the school year, but sometimes it's hard to justify the extra time. In the summer, I found myself taking the trolley to Trader Joe's or working at cafes in Rittenhouse square much more often. Additionally, trips to old city for ice cream at Franklin's table never feels better than on a hot summer day. I felt more like a Penn student living in Philadelphia than a Penn student who lives on campus and sometimes ventures into the city. Also, summer provides a great chance for people to visit you! Hotels are easy to reserve, and there's plenty of time on the weekends to explore with visitors. Some of my friends from high school flew in and I loved showing them around campus and Philadelphia, and we even had time to take a short trip to New York. While it would also be fun for them to visit during the school year, it's much easier to focus on quality time with people you care about during the summer.

Finally, taking time to become closer with the people that are on campus is rewarding. I enjoyed having social deduction game nights with my roommates, and being introduced to mutual friends since we just all happened to be on campus at the same time. I loved the fact that even when campus didn't feel as full I was still able to have a full experience of Penn.

- Daniel K.