You Belong Here

In class introductions, when telling a fun fact about myself, I always tell the story of how "I fell into a ditch during the first week of classes." Most college students do not enter their freshman years with the expectation of transferring. Little did I know however, that it would take an extra two years for me to discover my dream school.

When I was accepted into Penn, I felt success after months of study and work. But when I first arrived on campus for orientation, I felt the first pangs of regret. The unfamiliarity was overwhelming, having come from a small liberal arts college I wasn’t used to the bustling streets and active student body. This cascade of emotions climaxed during the first week of classes, where I fell into a ditch after searching for Gregory College House amidst the darkness of Locust Walk. On the ground, I questioned my decisions, debating whether to return to my old school, or to even get up in the first place. But in the end, I did and I realized that while returning was the easiest option for me, it wasn’t necessarily the correct one.

I came to Penn for a reason, to expand my social network and have fun with the variety of opportunities it offered. Getting lost and stumbling was simply my process in establishing familiarity and a sense of home in this vibrant campus. To all prospective first-years, know that the Penn experience is different for everyone. Recognize the opportunities given to ease your adjustment and that familiarity is the antidote to homesickness. You will stumble and have fun. But in the end, no matter what, you belong here.

- S. Chun