My Remote Classes

Due to the COVID-19 outbreak, Penn has officially transitioned to remote classes for the remainder of the Spring 2020 semester. While this news is undoubtedly devastating for students, especially for seniors, I instead want to talk about how our online classes have been so far. 

Most Penn courses use a platform called Zoom, which is a video chatting software. Some larger lectures with multiple sections have started recording each class, and then students can take notes on their own time. These conditions are not ideal for learning, but I appreciate the efforts that my professors have taken to maintain as much normalcy as possible. 

In one of my classes, which consists of student presentations each week, one student will share his or her screen on Zoom, and present a powerpoint remotely. In another one of my small group biology seminars, students can “raise their hand” using a Zoom feature if they have a question or comment. Since both of these classes are small (approximately 15 students), our Zoom sessions work out very well. 

In my journalistic writing class, we had been working on long-form pieces following some sort of topic in Philadelphia. Instead, our professor has asked us to write something about how coronavirus is affecting each of us separately. 

The biggest change for me was independent study. All of the labs on campus are closed other than those doing coronavirus research, meaning that even if I wanted to conduct experiments I could not enter the building. Instead, the Biology Department provided us with several alternative options, such as writing a research grant or a review paper. Although I would much rather spend time in my lab, I will still gain a lot by reading literature in the field related to my projects. 

Ultimately, while online classes are not the ideal scenario, in the situation that we are living in today, it is important to practice social distancing in order to prevent a rapid spread of coronavirus. I sincerely appreciate all of the support and effort that my professors have put into our classes this semester. 

- Kaitlyn B.

Philadelphia and Beyond

While I love the excitement that comes with being on campus during the week, sometimes the best way to relax and unwind without taking a full-blown vacation is leaving University City and exploring Philadelphia. As a Philadelphia native, I still find myself discovering new things about my city even as I go to the same places I did as a child.

Whether it’s a stony walk on the cobblestoned streets of Old City or a rush down Walnut Street in Center City to make a dinner reservation, there’s something special about being able to leave University City and immediately be in a place that doesn’t carry all the weight and pressure that campus carries. Whatever you want to call it, stress, anxiety, and pressure exists on every college campus, but the ability to keep that isolated and cross a bridge into the peaceful green spaces or hustle and bustle of downtown Philadelphia to destress is really helpful.

One thing I’ve learned in my three full semesters at Penn is that when you put thousands of young people in the small area that is University City, things get to be intense. When you’re in college, sometimes it feels like the things going on in your life are the most pressing or important things ever. Leaving campus every now and then and taking in some different surroundings has proven itself to be one of the best ways to learn how to take things in proportion and appreciate the little things in life.

That being said, with a city that houses a booming food scene, amazing museums, and great urban greenspaces, it’s not hard to go on an excursion into a different area of Philadelphia. Some of my favorite things to do downtown is combining dinner with a movie, some shopping, or a museum visit. There are a bunch of great movie theaters in the area, but to take in indie or foreign films, the Ritz theaters downtown never fail to please. Closer to campus in Rittenhouse Square is the PFS Roxy theater, which also plays indie films as well as some more mainstream ones.

Both theaters are situated next to a bunch of different restaurants, from fast-casual Shake Shack and Poi Dog for burgers or poke, or something more upscale and celebratory like The Continental in Old City or The Dandelion for English pub fare. As for museums, my personal favorites are the Philadelphia Museum of Art, the Franklin Institute, and the National Museum of American Jewish History, all of which are easily accessible by SEPTA or a longer walk.

With all of the possibilities to pass the time or distract from stress, there’s always new things to do, see, and eat in Philadelphia.

- Karin H.

Penn Perspectives

As a second semester senior, a lot of my extracurricular involvements over the past four years have inevitably died down. However, I’ve actually gotten involved with a new student-led group this semester called Penn Perspectives. Every Wednesday for an hour and a half, a lecture hall full of seniors meet and listen to a popular professor talk. The professor changes every week, and the choice of professor was solicited by seniors Penn Perspectives. The students who lead the group claim that the seniors in Penn Perspectives encompass all of the majors at Penn. This gives seniors a chance to learn about different disciplines from amazing professors and to foster curiosity beyond what we currently know. I really enjoy the experience every week because every professor has a very interesting story to tell about their life and career path, and they’re all really fun and genuine people.

Here are the professors who we have listened to so far:
-Professor Paul Rozin: He teaches a popular class at Penn called “Psychology of Food.” He’s been teaching at Penn since 1963 (!!).
-Professor Jeffrey Babin: He teaches Engineering Entrepreneurship in the School of Engineering, though he graduated from Penn with an undergraduate degree in Anthropology and later received his MBA at Penn. After undergrad, he actually was a drummer in a band and eventually ended up in entrepreneurship.
-Professor Fariha Khan: She teaches in the Asian-American Studies department, and her commentary was especially relevant since she talked to us a few days after the debacle with President Trump’s immigration ban. I learned a lot about Asian-American refugees in the Philadelphia community, which was super interesting.
-Professor David Eisenhower: He teaches a seminar about Political Communication in the Annenberg School of Communication. He takes a class to the Republican and Democratic conventions on election years and described his perspective on elections over the years to us. Oh, by the way, he’s the grandson of President Eisenhower and is married to President Nixon’s daughter.
-Professor Jamie-Lee Josselyn: She teaches Creative Writing and majored in English at Penn as an undergrad as well. In her lecture, she incorporated one of her essays, in which she wrote about an experience teaching in class.

Obviously, these little blurbs do not give these professors justice, and I am not accurately listing out all their lengthy credentials -- but regardless, I have loved listening to these incredible professors that I have heard great things about over the course of four years in a more informal setting. One of the best things about Penn is being an arms-length away from experts and scholars in all sorts of fields and taking advantage of that learning opportunity.

Hillel

To say I was overwhelmed with the possibilities for community when I came to Penn is an understatement. With hundreds of clubs, classes, sports teams, and more, it felt like there were endless options to build community. All I had to do was choose—which felt like a pretty hefty decision to make.

That being said, one community I knew I wanted to be a part of was Penn Hillel, which is one of two Jewish cultural and religious centers on campus. I grew up not being as immersed in the Jewish community as I wish I was. And while I celebrated the holidays with my parents and felt strongly connected to my Israeli roots, I wanted to meet people I could share that with.

When I arrived at Penn Hillel on the first day of New Student Orientation (NSO), I was immediately overwhelmed by all the options. Here I was thinking that Hillel was the community, little did I know there are dozens of communities within Hillel! With all of these communities, t took me a bit to find my place. Whether it was Israel clubs, fellowships, or religious communities, I hopped around for a bit before I found what was right for me.

The first community I joined was that of the Penn Israel Alliance, which is one of over a dozen clubs under the Penn Coalition for Israel. We organize large-scale events with big speakers to share their thoughts on anti-Semitism, anti-Zionism, the peace process, and more. Our first speaker was Israeli Ambassador to the U.S., Ron Dermer, who actually happened to be a Penn alum too! Hearing him speak on his time at Penn, his position as an ambassador, and see two hundred people in the room as a result of our work was an amazing feeling.

I continued to serve on the board, and over the course of the semester we brought in MK Tzipi Livni, one of the most famous women in Israeli politics to speak about her time as a Parliamentary representative, and journalists Bret Stephens and Peter Beinart to have a debate on Israel, anti-Zionism, and American Judaism. All three of these events left me feeling so proud and fired up to continue our work in bringing voices from all over the political spectrum to come and speak about Israel as a form of education and critical thinking for all.

Along with that, I took part in the Jewish Learning Fellowship during the spring semester. We met every week for an hour and a half, ending with dinner, and discussed modern topics like love, relationships, and family through a Jewish lens. We read the writings of different rabbis, discussed our personal experiences with practicing our Judaism, and connected as a group. It was a great way to meet people and strengthen my relationships with other members of the greater community.
You could now say that I’m a Hillel regular. I have the pleasure of knowing most of the staff from working there over the summer and now as a work-study student. I come to the Challah Bakes, study there from time to time, and help plan shabbat dinners and speaker events. Through all of the things I’m involved in at Hillel, I feel a little less lost than I did a year ago as a first-semester freshman. I’ve made great friends, been supported through times of difficulty, and cheered on by staff and students there. I’m proud to be a part of the greater Hillel community, to have connected with my Judaism on my own terms, and to have made lifelong connections.

- Karin H.

Submatriculation at Penn

One really unique aspect of the Penn curriculum is the ability to submatriculate. Essentially, this means to graduate in four years with both a Bachelor's degree and a Master's degree. Some students also choose to do this program over a five year period. Many different majors offer the ability to submatriculate, something that I decided to pursue in Biology. 

The Biology sub matriculation program involves several semesters of independent research projects, which count for course credit. Each week, I spend approximately ten to fifteen hours in the lab working with my mice and E. coli. Specifically, I am interested in the gut microbiome and how bacteria colonize in the intestine. Research has taught me how to think like a scientist, and how to adapt experiments based on the results. 

In addition to a heavy research curriculum, the program also requires several upper-level Biology seminars. These seminars have been some of the best classes that I have taken at Penn. Held in a small group setting of fifteen students, these classes operate on a graduate level curriculum. Each week, we read two research papers for homework, and come to class prepared to discuss the findings, methods, and anything else we don’t fully understand. The classes attract a nice mixture of graduate and undergraduate students, offering a unique blend of perspectives. 

Biology seminars often involve some sort of presentation aspect, which has strengthened my public speaking abilities in science. For example, in my Biol 480 seminar, or Advanced Cell Bio, my partner and I taught the class for the full ninety minutes, where we discussed a research paper on endocytosis. 

Some of these classes also involve a research paper on a unique topic of our choosing. In my Biol 404 seminar, or Immunobiology, each student chose a different field of immunobiology to pursue in the form of a review paper. 

Many of our departments at Penn offer not only submatriculation programs, but also these incredible opportunities for learning outside of simply large lecture classes. Ultimately, I have gained more from research and seminar classes than I ever expected. 

- Kaitlyn B.

Hey Day

On a warm day last April, I lined up with over a thousand of my fellow juniors donning bright red t-shirts, wooden canes, and styrofoam hats to parade down Locust Walk. Since 1916, Penn students have been participating in this tradition called Hey Day at the end of their junior years. Hey Day is a celebration to commemorate juniors becoming seniors. It is one of the only times that your entire class will all be gathered in one place, with the exception of Convocation and Graduation. All students wear this same outfit, and then gather on High Rise field to parade all the way down Locust Walk to College Green. Students take bites out of their friends’ styrofoam hats and run around to catch up with all of their classmates. Many students use this as an opportunity to reunite with their freshman hall mates. The current seniors line the way along with many alumni cheering as the juniors walk. When the group finally reaches College Green, the President of the university declares the class to be officially seniors.

Taking part in Hey Day was one of the highlights of my junior year. I felt so connected to Penn’s history and community, as well as all of my own classmates. It was crazy to see so many familiar faces and realize how far we’ve all come since our first year at Penn. It was surreal to think that my time at Penn was coming to a close, but it certainly made me feel proud of all of my progress and excited for all that was to come.

- Rachel W.

Interschool Minors

As a sophomore in the College, it’s known that I don’t have to declare my major until next
semester. But with minors, there’s much more flexibility in that I can declare a minor my junior
or my senior year depending on how far along I am in fulfilling its requirements. Minors range
from 6 to 9 credits for the most part, and are relatively easy to fulfill if they overlap with your
majors or if you explored some of the courses as part of your general education requirements. I
decided to take a stab at the Legal Studies & History minor to see if it piqued my interest.
At first I wanted to go straight into a 200-level class, which is often slightly more advanced and
niche than 100-level classes, so my academic advisor suggested that if I wanted a bit of
background, I could take the intro class and see if I liked Legal Studies classes enough to
continue with the minor.

The Legal Studies & History minor is super interesting and unique for a number of reasons, the
most important one being the fact that it’s a collaboration between the College of Arts and
Sciences and the Wharton School of Business. Around half of the classes for the major are in
Wharton, which focus on legal practice, while the other half are in the College, which focus on
the history of law in the United States. A lot of people who are interested in going to law school
or working in government minor in this, which is why I was initially interested. There are a
bunch of other interschool minors, with another Wharton/College one being Consumer
Psychology, and another popular one being Nutrition, which is between the College and Nursing.
I have to admit, as a student in the College of Arts and Sciences, I experienced a bit of
self-intimidation coming into a Wharton class. I had little to know understanding of most of the
business jargon that Wharton students can easily throw around, and I was genuinely afraid that I
wouldn’t be able to continue with the interschool minor because of my lack of business
knowledge. That being said, my fears couldn’t have been more unfounded. Not being in Wharton
helped me get a grasp on the qualitative discipline of law, whereas those who were more
math-minded needed to retrain themselves to think that way. Not that it would be incredibly
difficult either way, but what I thought was a drawback was actually an advantage.
Walking into my Law and Social Values lecture on the first day of class in August, a short yet
difficult question was posited to us: what is law? As everyone took a stab at it, the professor
respectfully, yet bluntly implied that all of the answers weren’t comprehensive enough until we
realized that law cannot be defined in a couple of sentences. From there we’ve discussed
everything from contract law and corporations to crimes and torts, getting a basic understanding
of legal concepts as well as how important being thorough is to the practice of law. The class
wasn’t nearly as intimidating as I expected it to be and actually persuaded me to take more Legal
Studies classes and most likely do the minor!

- Karin H.

The Pursuit of Happiness

Last semester, I took a course called The Pursuit of Happiness, led by Dr. James Pawelski. This course was unlike any other that I’d taken at Penn- it did not count for any requirement and the sole purpose was to teach Penn students how to be happier. The course was filled to capacity with hundreds of students. Each week, we met in lecture to discuss one aspect of happiness or a prominent finding related to happiness. Guest lecturers spoke about meditation, relationships, grit, and the foundings of positive psychology as a discipline. We were also instructed to meditate daily and exercise several times per week based on some of the primary findings in the happiness literature. Then, we met in smaller recitation sections (called “POH Teams”) to discuss our experiences from the week and forge close connections with others in our section. This course ended up being incredibly impactful and changed the way that I’ve moved forward with my life since. For one, it taught me the importance of taking the time to check in with myself and dedicating time to my well being. It also taught me the importance of connecting with other people. One of the main takeaways from the course was that happiness is not something to be pursued on your own. Relationships and being part of strong and supportive communities do wonders in leading to happiness. I looked forward to our POH team meetings each week and talking to the others in my class. We ended up having deep and meaningful conversations that extended to friendships beyond the course. Ultimately, this course gave me a renewed sense of energy and reminded me of how lucky I am to be part of a university community that prioritizes such important teachings.

- Rachel W.

How I Decided to Come to Penn

My college application process was overwhelmed with feelings of fear, excitement, joy, and doubt all at once. I was worried about financial aid prospects, whether or not I’d get into my top colleges, and how I would adjust to moving away from home, among other things. And while my college experience has been a truly interesting journey, all of the things that once made me nervous about college have now subsided because I know I’m at the right place.

While it wasn’t always apparent to me that Penn was going to be the place for me, it was always in the back of my mind. Growing up in Philadelphia meant that Penn was always in the periphery. Whether it was my older friends in high school going to Penn, having friends whose parents worked or attended Penn, or the awesome programs Penn put together to guide local students through the college admissions process, I always saw Penn as an option, but I wasn’t quite sure it was a feasible one. I continually doubted whether or not I was smart enough to get in or if it was a viable financial option for my family, but once I did some more research and soul searching my senior year, I quickly realized that there was no other place for me.

Penn’s need-based financial aid system meant that there was no reason to worry about finances for me or my family. With lots of work-study opportunities and a fully grant-based financial aid system, my fears were easily assuaged. I was and still am really lucky to have people at Student Financial Services who were willing to answer all my questions about financial aid.

While financial aid was a really important part of choosing a college, another element to that choice was how far away I’d be from home. As senior year sped up, I realized how important it would be for me to be able to see my family regularly. While I could easily deal with being apart from them for extended periods of time, I wondered how I’d be able to cope without an unconditional support system nearby during one of the most momentous periods of my life.

When I got into Penn in March of my senior year, I was instantly relieved. Financial aid worked out and I’d get the best possible education along the way. Because I stayed in Philly for college, I’d be going in with a bunch of friendly faces, and there’s nothing like catching up with someone who’s known you with an old friend after a long and exhausting day.

Going to Penn also meant not having to stress about being too far from home. I’d be able to see my family whenever I want, which really helped during the transition into college life. My parents and brother are my biggest supporters, and hanging out with them always serves as a great way to recharge, unwind, and take a break from the dramas that sometimes accompany young friendships. It also doesn’t hurt that I have access to home-cooked meals every now and then!

All of the friends and family I get to interact with while going to school in my favorite city and my hometown make Penn an even more amazing place to be. The growth I’ve experienced as a person and a scholar are so much more worth it to me when I get to have my biggest supporters close to me.

- Karin H.

How Sporting Events have Enhanced My Penn Experience

One thing people always ask me when I discuss my Penn experience is: what makes Philly different from any other city?

When I respond, I think back to the moment the Philadelphia Eagles won the Super Bowl nearly two years ago and the passion and energy pulsing through the city. I talked with friends who grew up to Philly about what the Eagles’ first-ever Super Bowl victory meant to them and their families. And I remember watching the parade and taking part in the spontaneous Eagle chants with the crowds of fans on Broad Street.

People in Philly are passionate about their sports teams. While I’ve always enjoyed watching and following sports growing up, my interest has broadened through meeting friends who also share an interest in sports and attending Penn and Philly sporting events. I have watched Penn basketball and football games and attended 76ers basketball and Phillies baseball games. Some of the highlights of my Penn experience have been defined by sporting events.

Sports have provided an outlet to escape from the oftentimes stressful nature of classes and exams, and instead focus on something exciting and unifying. I feel as though the Penn spirit is most palpable during the Homecoming football games, when alumni return to campus to celebrate reunions and reconnect through events on-campus. Everyone donned in Penn gear, the band playing, and all the cheers throughout the game reinvigorate my excitement about being here at Penn. And yes – we really throw toast during the game.

So, when I think about what makes Philly distinctive, I will always consider the positive impact the sports culture in Philly has had on my college experience.

- Brian Z.

Advising in the College

Before coming to Penn, I have to admit that while I was 100% sure of my choice to attend, I was still anxious about one aspect of academic life. For a few months up until my first meeting with my academic advisor, there was one big question swirling around in my mind: who would look out for me?

It wasn’t that I didn’t know about college advising, but instead, I had people fill my mind up with bogus ideas about how it’s nearly impossible to get any attention at a medium-sized research university like Penn. I’d gone through all of high school having to push and push for fifteen minutes of most of my overworked teachers’ time and I really didn’t want to have to do that again. I was used to having to make an effort to meet with teachers, but I figured that logically, it would be have to be easier to do so in going from high school in an underfunded district to a resource-rich university.

After I graduated in June, my advisor contacted me to set up a meeting to discuss course selection and Penn. We talked about what major I was thinking about and options for classes, but she also took an interest in my personal interests. We discussed everything from unheard of Jewish diasporic communities in the Amazon, China, and India to how excited I was for my summer trip to Europe. Not only did I leave the meeting reassured, but also more excited than I already was for Penn. 

My relationship with my advisor has developed since then. While she’s helped me with what advisors are traditionally associated with like tutoring resources and course selection, she’s also been a reassuring on-campus presence. She’s supported me in difficult decisions like withdrawing from a class, directed my attention to interesting career paths like the U.S. foreign service, built up my confidence around applying to a competitive academic program, and chatted with me about topics like complexities of Penn’s many websites, the Philadelphia School District, and international politics.

My relationship with my advisor has not only enriched my experience in the College of Arts & Sciences, but also taken the institutional feel out of navigating my academic journey. In exchange for the occasional help with Penn InTouch, I have someone who’s not just concerned with my major, but someone to look out for me.

- Karin H.

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.

How I Fall Asleep in College

Falling asleep in college can be hard. With so much to do, I find my mind still racing and covering tasks and to-do lists from the day. I’ve found that setting up a reliable routine helps me in preparing for bed.

I start by flossing. I can do this while watching TV, chatting with a friend on the phone, or doing just about anything. After I floss, I turn on my salt lamp (which provides more gentle light than my standard standing lamp), and I leave to the sink to brush my teeth, making sure to get all those molars. Finally, I wash my face and moisturize before getting back in bed. I turn off my salt lamp and settle into the restful and clean feeling. I used to not understand or appreciate night routines and thought they were ridiculous, and that I could fall asleep anywhere, any time.

I was wrong. 

Whenever I skip parts of or my whole night routine, I immediately feel it upon turning off my lights for sleep. I didn’t take the time to spend with myself, preparing myself for bed, which means it’ll be more difficult to fall asleep. Getting a restful night’s sleep is so important in all stages of life, and learning how to achieve that consistently took time and some habit-forming. I’m certainly glad I created my night routine and learned to stick to it. For me, it’s a form of self care that is achievable and that I can do every day, and it puts me in the right headspace before drifting off to sleep.

-Duval C.

My First-Year Seminar

I could not have asked for a better class to start off my freshman year than my first-year seminar. 

My professor recognized the importance of making our first-year seminar into a community. We were all freshmen and often had class discussions and worked in pairs or groups. Since the course was capped at 12 students, we made quality connections with our professor and lasting friendships with one another. I saw my professor as a mentor and still kept in touch with her after the semester!

The topics of first-year seminars are very unique and usually change every semester. My class was titled “Doing Research: Qualitative Methods and Research Design,” and other seminars include “Desire and Demand,” “Music in Urban Spaces,” and “Diversity, Technology, and the Penn Experience.” The classes not only offer interesting topics, but also count for general education requirements.

In my seminar, we learned various analytical frameworks and research methods in the social sciences and humanities. Throughout the semester, our class visited several spots on campus, including the Henry Charles Lea Library, Penn Museum, Education Commons, and Architectural Archives. My peers and I also learned about the different resources and collections that these locations had to offer. After that, we created and presented an online exhibit of a research collection available at Penn. 

Towards the end of the course, we developed our own research proposals that could be submitted for funding. Dr. Vernon-Grey of the Center for Undergraduate Research and Fellowships (CURF) also gave a talk to our class about the research and funding opportunities available for freshmen. After the semester, I submitted my proposal to CURF and was awarded with the Hassenfeld Foundation Social Impact Research Grant! The funding allowed me to carry out and conduct my research project during the summer. 

In all, I strongly recommend that you take a first-year seminar because of the invaluable experience you’ll attain. The class truly helped with my transition to Penn, and I cannot imagine my first semester without it!

- Tiffany T.

Theatre at Penn

One of my biggest extracurriculars that I am a part of at Penn is theatre. There are many ways to get involved in theatre at Penn, and one of the questions I get asked a lot by both current and prospective students is: “What are the different types of theatre that Penn has? How do you get involved?”

I break Penn theatre down into two categories: department theatre, and student theatre.

Department theatre is run by the theatre arts department (lovingly called the tharts department). This includes any courses, productions, practicums, or other opportunities provided by the tharts department. Being involved in tharts could include taking a course (or multiple), acting in a tharts production, or operating a lightboard for a tharts show, to name a few.

Student theatre includes a variety of performing arts groups under PAC (performing arts council), including groups centered around musical theatre, light opera, comedy, and more. Under PAC, there is also a specific organization called TAC-e (theatre arts council. The “-e” is a super special super secret addition to the title). This includes seven distinct performing arts groups, each with a different mission: African American Arts Alliance (4A), Front Row Theatre Company (FTC), iNtuitons Experimental Theatre (i), Pennsylvania Players (Penn Players or Players), Quadramics Theatre Company (Q), Stimulus Children’s Theatre Company (Stim), and PenNaatak (Naatak). TAC-e shows are completely student-run, -directed, and -produced (with the exception of Players, which has a professional director and music director each semester!).

The two different categories of theatre at Penn bring different experiences and opportunities depending on what you are looking for. If you seek an academically-based experience with guidance from/contact with the tharts faculty, or if you’re seeking to take classes but not act in a full-on production, then the tharts department is the way to go. If you seek a student-leadership-based hands-on experience with the different aspects that create a show at every level, then TAC-e is the way to go. Both offer incredible benefits and skills, and if you are even slightly considering trying out theatre at Penn, I encourage you to go for it. I think that theatre is a spectacular tool for teaching incredibly versatile and essential life skills to everyone. Not to mention, all the theatre shows at Penn are pretty amazing!

- Duval C.

Just Say Yes

As a senior, I’m now the presenter who takes the “Life After Penn” slide in our College Cognoscenti Presentation. Wild. So what does my life look like after Penn? Something along the lines of living in New York and doing the reverse commute to Greenwich, Connecticut to work at an investment management firm. If you told me that 4 years ago, I would have laughed. Stocks, what? 

My time at Penn has been full of opportunities I had absolutely zero idea about before coming here. I came in thinking I would study Linguistics to be a speech pathologist or English to be a news reporter. Freshman fall, I took BIBB109, an introductory lecture for Penn’s interdisciplinary neuroscience major and found the human brain to be fascinating; naturally, I then decided that I would be pre-med. To say that path was short lived would be an understatement,  and so I continued to explore different fields. I joined a consulting group on campus and got to work with some of the largest corporations and present to their senior members. I wrote for our daily newspaper, The Daily Pennsylvanian. I attended a student-run female empowerment conference that I am now a co-chair for. I spent my freshman year summer marketing ergonomic chairs and custom cigars. Then, my sophomore summer, I worked at an investment management firm. The list continues. 

My main point here is that there are so many opportunities at Penn, as long as you are open minded and willing to take them. I’ve never been exposed to so many different things in such a short amount of time, and I’m in disbelief that that my 4 years here is coming to an end. A lot of my friends and I are approaching the rest of senior year with a similar mindset to freshman year: Just say yes. It’s easy to get lost in the day to day of Penn, and forget what a special place it is until you don’t have much time left. So take advantage of being here, and remember to enjoy it. 

- Lucia K.

Dealing with Homesickness

Homesickness. It happens to the best of us. I remember thinking about going away to college before coming to Penn. I was extremely scared, mostly because I was moving to a completely different country and as an only child it felt unnatural to be so far away from my parents. 

However, my first few weeks at Penn were very overwhelming—in a good way! I was making tons of friends, exploring new places, and learning about things that actually interested me. Don’t get me wrong, I did shed a couple of tears when I said goodbye to my parents, but I was doing so many new things that I put missing home into the back of my mind for some time. 

Then my first midterm season came around the corner, to finish it off I got sick due to the change of temperature and my laundry had been piling up for some time. All I wanted was to bundle up in my room and have my mom bring me some homemade food. 

Even though it was a sucky week, it led to a good thing, I bonded with my friends. They had noticed that I was a little down and brought some delicious freshly baked insomnia cookies to my room (which were founded by a graduate of the College of Arts & Sciences, by the way). It led to genuine conversations with them and I got to know them better. It also helped me see that even though it can seem that people have it all together when you’re struggling, your friends can be going through tough times too. It was nice to know that even though I was away from my family, I had a new family away from home. 

Other than having friends as a great support system, it’s also super important to know that missing home or have a tough couple of weeks is not only completely normal, but also perfectly okay. Just make sure you’re in contact with your family or friends from back home and don’t be afraid to use some of the amazing resources that Penn offers, such as faculty and peer counseling.  

- Fernanda B.

Get Off Campus!

One thing that I love about Penn is its perfect location- Penn is located about a mile from Center City (downtown). My college experience has been great so far; however, I do occasionally become stressed from the academic pressure. One of my favorite things to do when  I am feeling stressed is to just leave campus and explore Philadelphia. 

Like most first-semester freshmen students, I was too nervous to wander far from campus- partly due to a fear of the unknown. One day, an RA in my freshman dorm suggested I explore Philly whenever I need a break from campus. Despite being nervous, I took her advice, hopped on the Eastbound trolley to Center City, and got away from campus. Since then, I have convinced my friends to do the same, and whenever we are collectively stressed, we grab a bite to eat off campus or we walk along the Schuylkill River that leads into Center City. 

There are plenty of restaurants, cafes, shops, and historical sites in Philadelphia, and my go-to off campus study spot is Good Karma Cafe on 23rd and Walnut Street. It is a nice spot to drink a latte while studying for a test. Nothing makes a college student perk up more than hearing the words “Do you want to eat?” There are loads of trendy restaurants in Philly; however, like most college students, I am broke 75% of the time. There are many inexpensive restaurants in this city- including my favorite place to grab a cheap bite- Alice’s Pizza on 15th Street. Conveniently, there are plenty of shops in Center City as well. Philadelphia is a wonderful city full of life, and exploring the city with my friends has been one of the many highlights of my time here at Penn. 

- Ami I.

The Medical Sociology Minor

The Medical Sociology minor is a little-known gem in the sociology department. As a neuroscience major (BBB) with interests in the health field, this minor really appealed to me when I discovered it. I didn’t know about it until I took Intro to Sociology (SOCI001) during my freshman spring. I took the class to fulfill two general education requirements: Society Sector and Cultural Diversity in the US. Then, one day in class, I stumbled upon the minor and the rest is history.

Conveniently, that class was the first of six requirements for the minor. The two other required classes are Intro to Sociological Research (SOCI100) and Medical Sociology (SOCI175). I took the latter during my sophomore spring with Jason Schnittker. Medical Sociology introduced me to the basics of healthcare availability and health status on a societal level through the lens of different factors (e.g. socioeconomic status, education, race, gender, age). While I really enjoyed that class, I was kind of dreading Intro to Sociological Research. To me, it sounded a little dry; but it turned out to be the furthest thing from that. I took the class last semester (junior spring) with Melissa Wilde. Prof. Wilde was incredibly passionate and knowledgeable about the different sociological research methods we were studying, so much so that I started looking forward to going to class every day. This class taught me how influential the professor’s charisma and care for their field could be for the class’s quality. The three other classes required for the major had a lot more flexibility. There’s a methods course, a substantive course, and a final class in a related discipline. My methods course was Population and Society (SOCI007). This class looked at different populations across the world and examined how and why population sizes differed. My substantive course was Mental Illness (SOCI277), also taught by Jason Schnittker. This class was what drew me to the minor in the first place. We discussed different psychiatric illnesses, vulnerabilities that lead to them, and biases surrounding them.

Finally, as a BBB major, I had already taken many classes that could count as my “related course.” I chose Drugs, Brain, and the Mind (BIBB270) taught by Michael Kane. This class looked at different recreational and therapeutic drugs and examined how they affect neuronal circuitry, neurotransmitter levels, and behavior. Not only was the class great, but so was the professor. Prof. Kane was both knowledgeable and relatable. After taking his class, he became my major advisor and I will hopefully be taking another class with him in my last semester at Penn.

- Grace M.

Mete Twi

Mete Twi. For most, if not all, of you that sentence is meaningless. It means “I speak Twi.” As a Jew from New York City, it is very unexpected that I can read and somewhat understand the language of Ghana. That said, at Penn it is not that radical to take on bizarre interests and skills. Throughout high school I studied Spanish and could have easily continued that in order to fill my language requirement, but I decided to completely jump out of my comfort zone. The summer before I came to college, I spent a month in Ghana, living with a family and working at the local hospital. Because the official language of Ghana is English, I could easily communicate with the doctors, nurses and my host family, but many of the patients that I worked with were uneducated and therefore never given the opportunity to learn English. Working so intimately with people and not being able to verbally communicate with them was heartbreaking. I helped deliver a woman’s baby, but couldn’t even ask her how she was feeling. Leaving Ghana that summer, I knew I wanted to go back. When I was choosing classes freshman year, I stumbled across Twi on the course catalog. I knew that being at a university where I had the chance to learn the language, I couldn’t turn it down. I signed up and anxiously walked into my first day of class on my first day of college freshman year. I was not only the only student in the class who was not of Ghanian decent, but many of the kids already spoke Twi fluently. The other students in the class immediately took me under their wing, so excited to teach their language. I am now in my third, of four semesters, taking Twi. Not only have I learned much of the language, I also have such a tight community at Penn that I can always turn to. The class has 6 students, two who grew up in Ghana, and our professor who is from there. We start class each week by giving updates on our lives, so at this point we all know everything about one another. The professor makes sure that everyone feels at home in his classroom: he loves to mention that two of his old Twi students from Penn are now married. During class, we go through exercises in our textbook, but also spend time talking about culture in Ghana. For example, last week we talked about Ghanian marriage and the way it differs from American marriage. I really could not be more thankful that I decided to take a leap of faith and sign up for Twi last year. And finally, thanks to PennAbroad, I will be spending the second semester of my junior year in Legon, Ghana. 

- Eliza C’22