Finding Family Before Penn Begins

Nervously, I flinched as what seemed like thousands of screams erupted on the other side of the double doors. The doors opened, and three-five upperclassmen swirling in bright blue swarmed into the crowd of one-hundred and thirty freshmen, all as simultaneously shocked and thrilled as I was.

“Pennquest, pennquest, pennquest, the best!!!!” 

Pre-orientation program, Pennquest – a three day backpacking trip in the Poconos Mountains – was my first experience at Penn. It is important to clarify that I have no athletic prowess, and my experience of the outdoors was limited to taking walks in parks. 

We were thrown in headfirst, socializing with so many people: Where are you from? What’s your major? What dorm are you in? You could barely get a breath in those first twenty-four hours until you were in the woods with your ten group members accompanied by your two upperclassmen leaders. 

It’s crazy, then it’s not. Now, time seemed to slow down as we begin to dig deeper into ourselves and our peers. I can’t talk much more about it because you, incoming freshman, have to experience it firsthand. 

However, it is suffice to say that Pennquest is a family. A family I made before Penn had even started. And clearly I loved it so much that I am now a leader and had the incredible opportunity to lead eleven freshmen into the woods this past August. 

There are so many pre-orientation programs available for incoming students to fit your interest leading to so many new faces eagerly waving at you down Locust Walk during your (shorter) trek to class – and trust me, it makes the cloudiest of days a little bit brighter.

- Hita M.