Exchange at Penn Work Hard, Play Hard

Andrea, one of the Exchange at Penn Correspondents, shares his experience at Penn during the Fall 2024 semester. Follow along with the group of correspondents on our blog and look out for their images on the @pennabroad Instagram feed.

The first weeks at Penn have been a rollercoaster of emotions, from social events and parties to early midterms and late study sessions. One of the first things I was told during a student tour around campus was, "Here at Penn, we work hard and play hard." I couldn't have found this more true. It is hard to be bored; something is always going on - from the various social events on campus to club opportunities to continuous assessments and upcoming midterms.

The first few days at Penn were thrilling; from exchange orientation events to museum balls, the number of settings to meet new people felt infinite. Unfortunately, if you're bad with names like I am, the feeling of seeing familiar faces around campus without being able to recall their name will be pretty common. Participating in orientation events and house warmings has given me great opportunities to find people with whom I bond strongly.

Lectures began after the first couple of orientation days, forcing my jet-lagged sleep schedule to fix itself. At first, I felt very overwhelmed by the choices I had to make between various modules and laboratories. This freedom was restricted at my home university, and thus, it was a shock. After attending many different lectures, I was able to refine my schedule and tailor it to my strengths. I was able to keep professors whom I enjoyed listening to and found inspiring while, at the same time, matching my courses back home.

During these first weeks, several club fairs were promoting their activities. Throughout Locust Walk, clubs like investment, aerospace engineering, and research youth were recruiting interested listeners. During this period, I joined at least ten different clubs and societies, some social and others more professional. Through these professional clubs, such as the Student Undergraduate Research Club, I met undergraduate researchers who helped me connect to potential mentors. Through these, I was able to participate in a laboratory where I assisted a group of postgraduate students in their research on nanopore technology. It took me the first few weeks to balance social events and study/lecture periods. Occasionally, when strained, it is hard to say no to a fun Wednesday night at Smoky Joe's, where you will likely meet a familiar face.

Being a swimmer, I also found and connected with the swim club by joining their practices and give-it-a-go sessions. Several clubs have participation fees, allowing them to fund fun activities such as meets, formalities, and get-togethers throughout the year. Joining these clubs and social events is a staple of American university life and the Penn community. "Networking" or meeting individuals with similar interests is crucial for a rewarding and memorable experience abroad.