Small Bites, Enriching Experiences

As a freshman, I wanted to take a big bite out of Penn, enjoying everything it has to offer all at once. However, I quickly realized attempting to do this is undoubtedly a choking hazard. 

With a whopping 650 clubs at Penn, choosing which ones I wanted to join was overwhelming. So after thoughtful deliberation, I decided to take a smaller (and more manageable bite) and chose a couple of clubs that I really wanted to focus on.  

Back home, I run two organizations that contribute to my local community in Tampico, Mexico. I avidly searched for clubs on campus that allowed me to continue supporting my homeland and Latin America from Philadelphia. That’s when I found Wharton Latino! After an application process, I became part of their Philanthropy Committee, which heads the logistics for one of the club’s biggest fundraisers, the Rose Sale. 

In February of every year, you can hear Latin music blasting on speakers, and cheers of passionate members of the club selling roses on every major point on campus. This, for me, is what makes the Rose Sale so successful every year. Wharton Latino members are the best, and most energetic salesmen. That, plus their willingness to help a cause close to home, makes them the most persuasive and enthusiastic rose sellers. 

The roses are brought all the way for Colombia, and delivered around campus (on some occasions even to other cities)!  All the money raised is donated directly to the club’s designated annual charity. Last year, it was Proyecto Mayú, a charity in Venezuela providing citizens with medical aid.

Besides being able to help Latin America from afar, Rose Sale gave me fun memories. All those conversations we had as we cut thorns off roses, and all those insomnia cookies our committee heads fed us are definitely things I’ll cherish forever. 

At Penn, even clubs devoted to your old passions give you new skills, wonderful memories, and new friendships! 

- Maria R.